Dry bulk traffic at the Brazilian Port of Paranaguá had a good 2009, growing by 6.2% overall. Soya volumes rose by 14.29% and sugar by 15.53%. Dry bulk exports amounted to 14.5 million tonnes, equivalent to 64.14% of total exports and 47% of total traffic at the Port.
Soya, at 4.76 million tonnes, was the leading dry bulk dispatched from the port followed by bran (4.75 million tonnes) and sugar (3.26 million tonnes), with the latter being 23.15% higher than in 2008. Many traditional sugar producing countries, such as India, were hit by poor harvests, which help boost volumes handled at Paranaguá. Forecasts for 2010 suggest a further increase of at least 5% across agricultural bulks, although soya exporters believe that they could be handling up to 30% more.