Port of Santos Sets Record with 6.6% Growth in First Four Months of 2026

The Port of Santos broke a record after cargo movement in April 2026 reached 16.5 million tons, a new high for that month, representing an increase of 11.5% compared to April 2025. For the year as a whole, an increase of 6.6% was recorded, reaching 59.3 million tons, the best figure for the first four months of the year in the historical series.

In April of last year, container traffic reached 508,700 TEU, an increase of 10.7% compared to the same month of the previous year, the best historical mark for April. In the accumulated four-month period, 1.91 million TEU reflect a growth of 5.4% compared to 2025.

Liquid bulk cargo movement totaled 6.6 million tons in the first four months, representing an increase of 10.1% compared to the same period in 2025 and a new record for a four-month period. In April, 1.7 million tons were moved. The most notable data for the first four months were increases in shipments of diesel, fuel oil, and gasoline, with +27.9%, +23.9%, and +15.8%, respectively.

The volume of solid bulk cargo reached an accumulated total of 29.2 million tons in the period (+8.2% compared to 2025), another record. Soybeans (54.8%), sugar (+16%), and pelletized soybeans (12%) registered the largest increases. In April, solid bulk cargo movement increased by 16.2% compared to April 2025.

The accumulated share of the Port of Santos in the Brazilian trade flow was 28.5% in the first four months of the year. During this period, China strengthened its position as the main trading partner; approximately 31.9% of national trade transactions with foreign countries passing through the terminal had China as their origin or destination; the value transacted in the first four months reached USD 18.98 billion (compared to USD 6.27 billion transacted with the United States, the second most important partner).

São Paulo was the state with the largest proportion of foreign trade transactions through the Port of Santos in the first quarter of 2026. It represented USD 30.3 billion, corresponding to 50.9% of the total.