Posted on July 22, 2026
By Bruno Teles
With solid bulk accounting for 839.7 million tons and container cargo advancing 7.2%, Brazilian ports closed the best year in their history, in a system that went from 840 million tons to 1.4 billion in fifteen years
Brazilian ports moved more cargo in 2025 than in any year in history, and crossed a milestone that had been pursued for some time. According to Agência Brasil, in a February 2026 report with data from Antaq, cargo movement in Brazilian port terminals reached 1.40 billion tons in 2025, an increase of 6.1% compared to the 1.32 billion tons recorded in 2024. It is the largest volume ever moved by the system.
And this growth is part of a long escalation. According to IstoÉ Dinheiro, in the last fifteen years, cargo movement in Brazilian ports grew 67%, going from 840 million to the current level of 1.4 billion tons. The country almost doubled what it can ship by sea.
What Brazilian ports move
Solid bulk dominates the volume. According to Agência Brasil, the movement of solid bulk in Brazilian ports reached 839.7 million tons in 2025, with a variation of 6.3%, while liquid bulk reached 333 million tons, with a growth of 6.1%. It is ore, grain, and liquid leaving by ship all year round.
And container cargo grew even faster. According to IstoÉ Dinheiro, the movement of container cargo increased by 7.2% in 2025, reaching 164.6 million tons, while general loose cargo totaled 65.8 million tons, with a rise of 0.8%. The container was the type of cargo that advanced the most.
This division explains the profile of Brazilian ports. The country mainly exports bulk products, such as ore and grain, which are dumped directly into the ship’s hold, while the container carries industrialized and higher-value products, and the growth of both fronts at the same time indicates strong exports and a heated trade.
