TCP, the company responsible for managing the Paranaguá Container Terminal, closed 2024 with a record-breaking volume of 1,558,453 TEUs.
This marks a 24% increase compared to 2023, translating to 10.8 million tons of cargo. With this milestone, the Port of Paranaguá has become the second port in Brazil to exceed 1.5 million TEUs.
The terminal facilitated this substantial container movement through 992 vessel berthings throughout 2024, representing a 19% growth from the previous year.
According to Carolina Merkle Brown, shipping lines commercial manager, the result is a direct reflection of the increase in the number of maritime services that serve the terminal. “In the last year, TCP has received berths from eight more services, six long-haul and two cabotages. With 25 weekly lines, the Terminal stands out as the largest service hub in Brazil, which highlights TCP’s vocation to become one of the main port hubs on South America’s Atlantic coast.”
Besides new maritime routes, the terminal also celebrated the docking of the largest container ships in operation in Brazil—measuring 366 meters in length and over 48 meters in width. Looking ahead to 2025, expectations are high that an increase in the operational draft will enable even larger vessels to dock, improving efficiency and safety.
In November 2024, TCP’s operational draft was raised from 12.1 meters to 12.6 meters at zero tide. This additional 50 centimeters is expected to allow vessels to carry around 400 more TEUs per trip.
“The recent commercial and operational records achieved by the Paranaguá Container Terminal underline its importance to the Brazilian trade flow and, in 2025, we hope to boost TCP’s and our clients’ results even further, given that the effects of the increased draft will have a direct impact on productivity and that we expect new draft upgrades later this year,” commented Carolina Merkle Brown.
The 2024 trade balance was notably driven by the export of meat and frozen products, which totalled over 3.4 million tons.
Giovanni Guidolim, TCP’s commercial, logistics and customer service manager, stated: “The mega-work to expand the area for storing refrigerated containers (reefer) was a strategic investment that placed TCP as the main meat export corridor in Brazil and a world reference in the segment. With 5,268 plugs, the Terminal has the largest reefer yard in South America, an advantage that translates into greater flexibility and operational capacity for our clients.”
Wood exports ranked second, surging by 47% to 1.4 million tons, followed by the pulp and paper sector, which saw a 54% increase, reaching 974,000 tons shipped.
A significant portion of the pulp and paper cargo was transported to the Paranaguá Container Terminal via the railway network connecting the port to Paraná’s western and northern regions. The KBT intermodal logistics project, operational since 2021, links TCP to Klabin’s Puma II plant in Ortigueira (PR) through a branch line operated by Brado Logística. In 2024, KBT set a new productivity record, handling 86,440 TEUs—a 33% rise compared to the previous year’s 64,978 TEUs.
Regarding general container transport via rail, which connects the terminal to Cambé in northern Paraná and Cascavel in the western region, the volume reached 101,527 TEUs, marking a 9% growth.
On the import side, the highest volume was recorded in the chemical and petrochemical sectors. These imports increased by 14%, surpassing 648,000 tons, largely driven by the demand for pesticides and fertilizers.
The automotive and vehicle segments followed closely, recording a 12% growth and handling 562,000 tons. This sector plays a crucial role in supplying inputs, parts, and components, primarily to Curitiba’s industrial hub and its surrounding metropolitan area.
