PORT OF SANTOS LEADS WITH 72% OF NATIONAL SUGAR EXPORTS

Despite logistical and structural issues, the Port of Santos remains crucial for shipping Brazilian sugar, with approximately 94% of this cargo moved by rail – an efficient and lower-emission method that is now nearing its capacity limit. Operators and trading companies are concerned about bottlenecks, maintenance shortcomings, and saturated road access, particularly on the Right Bank, which risk causing delays during peak harvest. Sugar’s share of the port’s total handling declined from 14.6% to 11.4% in the first half of 2025, a trend also driven by high costs and growing competition from other ports investing in infrastructure. Nonetheless, Santos persists as the primary conduit between the agricultural sector and foreign trade, with its future position depending on its ability to balance rising demand with operational efficiency in the years ahead.
Source: Jornal Portuário (*Translated by Ia Niani)