By PortalPortuario Editorial Team
Grain soybeans were the commodity with the highest volume handled in the ports of Paraná between the months of January and October of this year, according to the operational report from Portos do Paraná. Cumulatively, 13,015,446 tons were shipped, which represent, in FOB value (product value at the point of shipment), USD 5.2 billion. The volume corresponds to 21.2% of all cargo handled in 2025 by the ports of Paraná (61,213,363 tons).
Brazil is the largest exporter of the product, and Paraná stands out in this movement. In total, 91% of the soy that leaves Paranaguá is destined for the Chinese market. “We are confident that soybean movements will continue to rise in the coming months,” stated the CEO of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia.
The month of October showed a 60% growth in the movement of the commodity compared to the previous year, increasing from 508,876 tons in 2024 to 815,327 tons in 2025. Currently, 15 terminals can handle grain soybeans through the ports of Paraná.
Among the main reasons for the increase in soybean exports are the record production of the Brazilian harvest and high Chinese demand, which practically stopped importing the product from the United States after the tariff disputes.
The Port of Paranaguá has the second largest movement of soybean meal in Brazil, with 28% of national exports. From January to October of this year, 5,517,043 tons of meal were handled, representing US$ 1.8 billion in FOB value. The product, used in the production of animal feed, saw a 3% increase compared to last year (5,333,259 tons). The Netherlands (Holland), France, Spain, and South Korea were the main importers.
Paranaguá remains the national leader in the export of soybean oil. By the end of October, the Port was responsible for shipping 63% of the entire national production, destined for countries totaling over 860 thousand tons. The oil can be used in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and textile industries, among others.
The Port of Paranaguá is preparing to further increase its handling capacity within the soybean complex. The construction of the Moegão — the largest public port works project currently underway in the country — scheduled for January 2026, will enable an increase in the reception of grains and meals in the coming years.
The complex will centralize the railway unloading of solid bulk, connecting 11 terminals via a conveyor belt system. Soybeans will be one of the commodities most benefited by this investment.
Currently, about 550 rail wagons can be unloaded daily at the export terminals. With the Moegão, this process will be standardized at a single unloading point, increasing to up to 900 wagons per day.
“With the project completed, the Moegão will be able to receive 24 million tons of grains and meals per year, serving the terminals of the East Export Corridor and increasing productivity, especially in soybean exports,” stated the Director of Port Operations, Gabriel Vieira.
Another project that will begin development is the construction of the ‘T’-shaped Pier, which will feature four new berths and a loading system considered the fastest in the world. The equipment currently in operation can load three thousand tons of grains and meals into ship holds every hour.
The new structure will be able to dump up to eight thousand tons per hour into a vessel.
The third factor that will further increase exports is the deepening of the access channel, which will allow the berthing of larger ships with space to carry even more products. This will be possible with the concession of the Access Channel to the Port of Paranaguá, made possible through a public auction at the Brazil Stock Exchange — B3.
The consortium that won the bid will have to carry out all necessary investments within five years of taking over the contract. This includes increasing the draft — which is the deepest point of the ship to the water’s surface — from the current 13.3 meters to 15.5 meters within five years.
The additional 2 meters and 20 centimeters in draft will allow a ship to load 14 thousand more tons of solid vegetable bulk, with no additional operating cost.
All these changes will considerably increase the competitiveness of the Port of Paranaguá, which is one of the main bulk ports in the world. Another advantageous addition will be the increase in safety during ship maneuvers and the shorter operating time, which considerably reduces the transport cost for cargo leaving Paraná.
