Operators of the Eastern Export Corridor at the Port of Paranaguá (Corex) handled almost 12.97mt (million tonnes) of agribulk in the first seven months of this year. This is the most ever recorded by the complex. The previous best was in 2020, when 12.92mt were shipped.
In terms of products, Corex transported 7.68mt of soybeans, 2.99mt of soy bran, 2.26mt of corn and 30,640 tonnes of wheat. In comparison, in the corresponding 2022 period, shipments amounted to 6.57mt of soybeans, 2.90mt of bran, 1.85mt of corn and 32,895 tonnes of wheat.
According to Gabriel Vieira, the director of operations at Portos do Paraná, “The intense movement of grain this year resulted in the Paranaguá Export Corridor recording the highest accumulated volume in seven months of its history.”
Just in the month of July, Corex reported traffic of 1,875,128 tonnes, of which corn accounted for 352,297 tonnes. This commodity had resumed shipment after a three-month break and the tonnage in July was up 42.7% compared to the 246,747 tonnes handled in July 2022. Also in that month, 1,522,831 tonnes of soybeans and bran were moved.
Significantly, the daily average for grain shipments in July reached 62,504 tonnes, up from the 59,058 tonnes per day reported in July 2022. However, this year, despite handling operations being suspended for 8.4 days compared to 4.3 days because of rain, net berth productivity was higher.
Shipments generated by the Eastern Export Corridor are undertaken at three berths at the Port of Paranaguá: 212, 213 and 214. There handled 30 ships loaded in July compared to the 33 that used the facilities in July last year.
Report: Barry Cross