Largest seaports in Brazil – top 5 ports

Brazil is the largest country in South America and Latin America. Moreover, it has an extensive Atlantic coastline of over 7,000 km. It comes as no surprise that Brazil’s seaports contribute more than 90% of the country’s trade volume. What are the largest seaports in Brazil?

Largest seaports in Brazil – a map

Here’s a map of Brazil with its largest seaports by container throughput.

Seaports in Brazil

Largest seaports in Brazil

Port of Suape (BRSUA)

Port of Suape
  • Location: Northeastern Brazil, Pernambuco State
  • Annual container throughput in 2024: 646,804 TEU
  • Growth rate 2023/2024: 23.4%
  • Key commodities: petroleum products, chemicals, grains, and manufactured goods

The Port of Suape is located near the city of Recife. It connects the northern hemisphere and major international sea routes. The port handles a variety of commodities, but it’s a key hub for the oil and gas industry.

Port of Itajaí (BRITJ)

Port of Itajaí
  • Location: Southern Brazil, Santa Catarina State
  • Annual container throughput in 2024: 1.2 million TEU
  • Growth rate 2023/2024: -1%
  • Key commodities: refrigerated products, textiles, electronics, automotive components

Itajaí is a significant port under the Santos Port Authority (APS). It handles a variety of products, but it is a prime transshipment port for refrigerated goods.

Port of Rio de Janeiro (BRRIO)

Port of Rio de Janeiro
  • Location: Southeastern Brazil, Rio de Janeiro State
  • Annual container throughput in 2024: 1.2 million TEU
  • Growth rate 2023/2024: +4%
  • Key commodities: petroleum products, consumer goods, machinery, food products

The Port of Rio de Janeiro is an important logistics hub for the Southeast region. Since it has strong competitors, ts container terminals have seen significant modernization.

Port of Paranaguá (PRPRG)

Port of Paranaguá
  • Location: Southern Brazil, Paraná State 
  • Annual container throughput in 2024: 1.5 million TEU
  • Growth rate 2023/2024: +24%
  • Key commodities: fertilizers, agricultural products, frozen meat, industrial machinery

Paranaguá is a crucial deep-water port on Brazil’s southern coast. It is essential for agricultural exports, but it also handles a lot of containerized cargo for the closest states.

The biggest port in Brazil: Port of Santos (BRSSZ)

Port of Santos
  • Location: Southeastern Brazil, São Paulo State
  • Annual container throughput in 2024: 5.5 million TEU
  • Growth rate 2023/2024: +14.7%
  • Key commodities: coffee, soybeans, sugar, vehicles, machinery, electronics

The Port of Santos is the leader among Brazilian ports, handling nearly a third of the country’s containerized trade. It serves the largest industrial and consumer markets in Brazil. Santos is crucial for both exports, such as coffee, sugar, and soybeans, and imports, such as electronics, vehicles, and industrial equipment. It is well-equipped and handles a variety of cargo.

Check other posts about the biggest ports all over the world.