Published in jun 03 2020 - 15:42 48305j

April’s cargo handling increases 26.8% and year-to-date raises by near 10%

The month of April 2020 recorded the largest monthly cargo handling in the history of the Port of Santos. There were 13.4 million tons of cargo handled, a number that sures the previous record by 5% (12.8 million tons in October 2019) and by 26.8% over the same month last year (10, 6 million tons). The accumulated result for the year reached 45 million tons, an increase of 9.8% over 2019s year-to-date and 5.5% over the previously ed record (42.7 million tons, in 2018). The figures were compiled by the Tariff and Statistics Management of the Santos Port Authority (SPA).

Container handling, a cargo of greater added value, also grew, after a period of economic downturn. Monthly comparison has seen an increase of 8.6% to 358.6 thousand TEU (standard 20-foot container unit); year-to-date, growth was of 13.6% versus January-April 2019, to 1.5 million TEU.

“The figures revealed by the Port of Santos do not yet reflect the worldwide health crisis, but the trend is for this scenario to change and for the coming months to show the effects of covid-19 on some cargo. Anyway, the good results in these last months may compensate for the less positive performances until the end of the year”, says SPA President, Fernando Biral.

General shipment of goods through the Port of Santos reached 9.7 million tons, up by 32.6%. The highlight was soybean, which ed 4.6 million tons, 68% above the last year’s April numbers. Sugar came in second, with 1.10 million tons, up 24%, the best result for the month since 2014.

As for cargo landings, April ed 3.72 million tons, an increase of 13.8% in relation to the same month last year.

This April there were 420 vessel berthings in the Port of Santos, an increase of 9.7% over the same month of 2019 (383). In the year, there were 30 more moorings (1,593 to 1,556), a result 1.9% higher.