Posted on May 27, 2026
The Port of Santos keeps breaking records. In April 2026, cargo handling reached 16.5 million tons, a record for that month, with an increase of 11.5% compared to April 2025. In the year to date, growth of 6.6% was recorded, with 59.3 million tons, the best result for a first four-month period in the historical series.
In the last month of April, container handling reached 508.7 thousand TEU, an increase of 10.7% compared to the same month last year, also the best historical mark for April. In the accumulated figure for the four-month period, the 1.91 million TEU represent growth of 5.4% compared with 2025. TEU is the standard measure for containers.
The handling of liquid bulk cargo totaled 6.6 million tons in the first four months – an increase of 10.1% compared to the same period in 2025 and a new record for a first four-month period. In April, 1.7 million tons were handled. Highlights of the first four months were the increases in shipments of diesel, fuel oil, and gasoline: +27.9%, +23.9%, and +15.8%, respectively.
Solid bulk reached a total of 29.2 million tons in the first four months of 2026 (+8.2% compared to 2025), another record for the period. Soybeans (54.8%), sugar (+16%) and pelletized soy (12%) showed the highest growth. In April, solid bulk handling advanced 16.2% compared to April 2025.
Importance of the Port of Santos for Brazil
The accumulated share of the Port of Santos in Brazil’s trade flow was 28.5% in the first four months of the year. In the period, China strengthened its position as the main trading partner: about 31.9% of national foreign trade transactions that passed through the Port of Santos had the Asian country as their origin or destination – the amount handled in the first four months reached US$18.98 billion (compared to US$6.27 billion traded with the US, the second-largest partner).
São Paulo was the state with the largest share in foreign trade transactions through the Port of Santos in the first quarter of 2026. The amount was US$30.3 billion, corresponding to 50.9% of the total.
