In the first quarter of 2022, the Brazilian port sector handled 277,6 million tons (ANTAQ data). This result represents a drop of 2,2% compared to the same period of the previous year. It is worth mentioning, however, that the numbers for 2022 more than surpassed the pre-pandemic period, and that 2021 had been the historical record for the segment.
Solid Bulk continues to be the most representative cargo profile in the country (56%), despite having shown a drop of 2,3% compared to 2021. Liquid/Gase Bulk and Containerized Cargo also showed a drop of 5,7. 4,2% and 23%, respectively. On the other hand, General Cargo, although it is the least handled cargo profile, grew by XNUMX% in the period, driven by the increase in the movement of Pulp, Iron and Steel and Box Semi-trailers.
Figure 1: Historical series of Brazilian port movement in the 1st quarter, from 2010 to 2022, by cargo profile
Source: ANTAQ. Analysis: ILOS.
Brazilian port activity is concentrated in 5 main goods that account for 73,3% of the total, namely: Iron Ore (26,9%), Oil and Derivatives (Crude Oil) (16,3%), Soybeans (11,5. 11,1%), Containers (7,5%) and Oil and Derivatives (Excluding Crude Oil) (8,9%). Iron ore showed a drop of 2021% compared to the same period in 40,9, but its movement remains extremely relevant for Brazil's trade balance, since it represents XNUMX% of the entire volume exported by transport waterway. The port complex of Itaqui (MA) is responsible for practically half of the shipment of this product to other countries.
In Brazil, private ports are the ones that handle the most products (65,2% of the movement), and they were the ones that most decreased their loads (4,4% drop in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period of 2021 ). The Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal (MA) and the Angra dos Reis Waterway Terminal (RJ) were the ports that showed the most reduction. On the other hand, public ports increased by 2,3%, with Santos (SP) and Paranaguá (PR) being the main drivers of the increase.
Long Haul navigation (between ports in different countries) handled 187,7 million tons, down 2,5% compared to the first three months of last year. Exports showed a drop of 1,5%, but continue to represent most of the international movement (78,8%). The main destination of Brazilian exports is China (46,7%) and the most representative products are Iron Ore and Soy. With regard to imports, the fall was more pronounced, reaching 5,9%. The main import trading partners – representing 53,4% of the total – are: United States, China, Russia, Argentina and Colombia; and the goods with the most movement are Containers and Adubos (fertilizers).
In turn, Cabotage (navigation between ports on the Brazilian coast), handled a total of 50,0 million tons and recorded a drop of 4,3% in the first quarter compared to the same period of 2021. The commodity with the highest share in Cabotage (65,6%) it was Oil and Derivatives (Crude Oil), with the main routes for moving this product taking place from the Exclusive Economic Zones (Continental Platforms) to the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Figure 2: Evolution of movement in the Brazilian port sector 1st quarter of 2021 and 2022 by type of navigation
Source: ANTAQ. Analysis: ILOS.
Inland navigation (on rivers) showed a slight increase of 0,5% from January to March 2022 compared to the same period of the previous year. In total, 27,9 million tons were handled, with Soybean and Bauxite representing 32,5% and 15,4% of this amount, respectively. The North region is the origin of 78,9% of movements and only the internal flow of the state of Pará represents 12,9% of the total.
Focusing on Container handling, the total handled in the first three months of 2021, in TEUs (Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit), was 2,8 million, which represents a drop of 3,9% compared to the previous year. The most used types of containers were Conventional (33,6%), High Cube (19,8%) and Ventilated High Cube (18,9%) and 82,0% of handling was carried out by 40' containers. Regarding goods transported inside containers, Plastics and Their Works, Organic Chemicals and Wood Works represent 21,1% of the total.
The drop in port cargo handling numbers in Brazil is closely related to the lockdown measures adopted by China – Brazil’s main trading partner. Due to COVID-19 related restrictions adopted by the second largest global economy, many cargo ships were grounded, which resulted in an escalation in freight prices, whether for import or export.
References:
– Waterway Statistics: http://anuario.antaq.gov.br
– Brazil Profile: Port movement drops in Brazil due to the lockdown in China.
