The Port of Santos Authority and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly assess the feasibility of offshore transshipment of Brazilian soybeans onto Capesize vessels. The initiative is aimed at improving the efficiency of export logistics between Brazil and China.
New logistics scheme optimizes Brazilian soybean exports
Under the proposed model, soybeans would be loaded onto smaller bulk carriers at the Port of Santos and transported to a designated offshore transshipment area off the coast of São Paulo State. There, the cargo would be transferred to Capesize vessels with a deadweight exceeding 150,000 tonnes, enabling more efficient long-haul shipments to Asian markets.
At present, the largest bulk carriers able to call directly at the Port of Santos transport approximately 80,000 tonnes of cargo. Offshore transshipment would make it possible to utilize much larger vessels without the need to deepen the navigation channel or expand existing port infrastructure. According to the parties involved, the project could reduce transportation costs, improve the efficiency of maritime logistics, and accelerate fleet turnaround, as smaller vessels would be able to return to the port more quickly to load additional cargo.
As part of the agreement, a bilateral working group will be established to evaluate the project’s technical, economic, and operational feasibility. At this stage, the initiative remains at the feasibility study phase. Ningbo-Zhoushan is the world’s busiest port by cargo throughput, handling more than 1.4 billion tonnes of cargo annually, making it a strategic partner for Brazil in strengthening export logistics and trade links with China.
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