Brazil's main port of Santos moved a record 6.17 million tonnes of cargo in February, up 17.5 percent from the previous February record of 5.25 million tonnes in 2006, Port Authority Codesp said on Monday. Imports, aided by a strong real against the dollar, were the main driver, jumping 41.3 percent to 2.37 million tonnes. Exports rose 6.4 percent to 3.80 million tonnes. Sugar exports, the biggest farm commodity moving through the port by volume, soared 117.8 percent to 1.77 million tonnes in February, and cane-based ethanol shipments rose 77 percent to 150,187 tonnes. Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of sugar and the top ethanol exporter. Coffee shipments rose 88 percent to 137,399 tonnes. Meat exports soared 191 percent to 137,581 tonnes as countries picked up imports after banning Brazilian beef after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Orange juice exports rose jumped 105 percent to 310,655 tonnes. Soybean exports were up 48 percent at 363,100 tonnes in February. Including soymeal, soy exports rose 58 percent to 497,744 tonnes. Santos is the country's No.1 soybean port. Regarding imports, wheat shipments jumped 51 percent to 183,705 tonnes in February. Coal remained the biggest import at 347,710 tonnes, up 30 percent from February 2006. Fertilizer imports rocketed to 343,562 tonnes, up 385.5 percent from a year ago. Container shipments rose 14 percent to 130,856 units. Santos port handled $9.6 billion of trade, or 26.2 percent of Brazil's total in February. It expects to move a record 79 million tonnes of freight in 2007, versus 76.3 million in 2006.
The United States, Germany and China were the leading origins of imports into Santos, accounting for 43 percent of total shipments. The United States, Netherlands and Iran were the top export destinations, taking 28 percent of Brazilian shipments.
Orange juice exports rose jumped 105 percent to 310,655 tonnes. Soybean exports were up 48 percent at 363,100 tonnes in February. Including soymeal, soy exports rose 58 percent to 497,744 tonnes. Santos is the country's No.1 soybean port. Regarding imports, wheat shipments jumped 51 percent to 183,705 tonnes in February. Coal remained the biggest import at 347,710 tonnes, up 30 percent from February 2006. Fertilizer imports rocketed to 343,562 tonnes, up 385.5 percent from a year ago. Container shipments rose 14 percent to 130,856 units. Santos port handled $9.6 billion of trade, or 26.2 percent of Brazil's total in February. It expects to move a record 79 million tonnes of freight in 2007, versus 76.3 million in 2006.
The United States, Germany and China were the leading origins of imports into Santos, accounting for 43 percent of total shipments. The United States, Netherlands and Iran were the top export destinations, taking 28 percent of Brazilian shipments.