Port Delays Strand 637,767 Bags of Brazilian Coffee, Costing Exporters Millions in March
April 27 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
Data from the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) revealed that 637,767 bags of coffee (1,932 containers could not be shipped due to port inefficiencies in March. This resulted in R$8.901 million in unforeseen expenses for exporters, including extra storage, detention fees, pre-stacking, and early gate costs. Since Cecafé began tracking these losses in June 2024, cumulative damages for associated companies have reached R$66.576 million, a direct consequence of outdated infrastructure at Brazil’s major coffee export hubs.
The unshipped coffee also meant US$262.8 million (R$1.510 billion in lost foreign exchange revenue last month, based on an average FOB export price of US$336.33 per bag and an exchange rate of R$5.7462/US.
“Brazil leads in passing FOB export prices to producers, but shipment failures directly reduce income for our coffee growers, who strive to deliver high-quality, sustainable products,” said Eduardo Heron, Cecafé’s Technical Director.
While Heron acknowledged recent government announcements of infrastructure investments—such as the TECON10 auction in Santos, the port’s maritime channel concession, the Santos-Guarujá tunnel, and the third Anchieta Highway descent route, he emphasized the urgency of faster implementation.
“These projects will take five years to materialize, but exporters need immediate solutions. The losses are unsustainable,” he stressed.
Heron noted that port infrastructure has failed to keep pace with Brazil’s agricultural growth, creating a “critical” scenario for trade-dependent businesses. “Even during the off-season, over 600,000 coffee bags are stuck in yards due to inefficiencies. The problem extends beyond coffee—all containerized cargo faces similar delays, and the situation will worsen as agribusiness expands,” he warned.
Cecafé remains committed to collaborating with public and private stakeholders, providing data-driven insights to expedite solutions. “Port terminals are making efforts, and dialogue with authorities like Antaq and the Ministry of Ports is ongoing. Reliable data is key to addressing these challenges,” Heron added.
Port Delays: A Closer Look
According to Cecafé’s Detention Zero Bulletin (with ElloX Digital), 55% of vessels (179 out of 325) faced delays or route changes at Brazilian ports in March 2025:
• Santos (handling 78.5% of Q1 coffee exports): 63% delay rate (113 of 179 ships), with the longest wait hitting 42 days. Reports also cited 19 missed calls and 13 voyage cancellations due to infrastructure constraints.
• Rio de Janeiro (17.2% of coffee exports):59% delay rate (43 of 73 ships), with waits up to 15 days.
Gate opening times:
• Santos: 12% took >4 days; 55% 3–4 days; 33% <2 days.
• Rio: 18% took >4 days; 36% 3–4 days; 46% <2 days.
“Delays and cancellations exacerbate yard congestion, disrupting the entire supply chain,” Heron noted, underscoring the need for swift action.