BR Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
A UN/LOCODE normally combines the two-letter country prefix BR with a three-character location identifier. For example, BRSTS identifies the Santos location in the Ecer Freight sample.
Seaports in Brazil: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Brazil has 235 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting container shipping, bulk exports, energy cargo and regional trade across the Atlantic coast and inland waterways.
Review Brazil port codes, leading gateways, regional cargo roles and indicative trade-lane planning data.
Brazil Seaport Overview
Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and has a broad maritime network serving manufactured goods, agricultural exports, minerals, petroleum products and domestic distribution. Indexed coverage and published throughput statistics represent different measurement scopes.
235
Brazil ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National port cargo volume, 2025; YoY change subject to official consolidation
ANTAQ 2025 data series
—
National container throughput, 2025; YoY change subject to terminal consolidation
ANTAQ 2025 data series
—
Commercial berths nationwide, 2025; YoY change not consistently reported
ANTAQ 2025 data series
How many seaports does Brazil have?
Brazil has 235 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage figure rather than a national legal classification of every port facility.
What is Brazil's largest container gateway?
Santos is generally Brazil's leading container gateway by national activity. The Ecer Freight sample includes Santos under BRSTS and BRSSZ; the applicable terminal or facility code should be confirmed against the booking and carrier schedule.
Which regions handle Brazil's main freight flows?
The Southeast and South are the principal container and industrial freight clusters, including Santos (BRSTS), Itajai (BRIJI), Paranagua (BRPAR), Rio Grande (BRRGR) and Rio de Janeiro (BRRDJ). Northeast and North gateways support regional, energy, mineral and agricultural flows.
Top Brazil Ports by Container and Freight Activity
The following indicative league table uses commonly published container-market and port-activity rankings. World-rank positions and 2025 values should be checked against the latest carrier, terminal and ANTAQ releases before being used for contractual planning.
Selected Brazil gateways · indicative 2025 container throughput
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Santos | BRSTS | 5.4 | +6.2% | Southeast |
| — | Itajai | BRIJI | 1.7 | +12.1% | South |
| — | Paranagua | BRPAR | 1.5 | +8.4% | South |
| — | Rio Grande | BRRGR | 1.2 | +4.8% | South |
| — | Navegantes | BRNAV | 1.1 | +10.3% | South |
| — | Suape | BRSUA | 0.8 | +7.0% | Northeast |
| — | Pecem | BRPEC | 0.7 | +9.5% | Northeast |
| — | Rio De Janeiro | BRRDJ | 0.7 | +3.6% | Southeast |
Brazil Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Brazil's port geography is closely linked to industrial concentration, agricultural hinterlands, mineral corridors and coastal distribution. City and province fields below follow the Ecer Freight port sample.
Southeast Brazil
The Southeast is the country's principal industrial and container-shipping cluster, with strong links to the São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo hinterlands.
Selected Southeast ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santos | BRSTS | Santos | Containers, agricultural exports, industrial cargo |
| Santos | BRSSZ | Santos | Container and multipurpose terminal activity |
| Rio De Janeiro | BRRDJ | Rio De Janeiro | Containers, general cargo and regional distribution |
| Itaguai | BRITA | Minerals, steel-related and industrial bulk cargo | |
| Vitoria | BRVIT | Vitoria | Containers, ore, steel and general cargo |
| Salvador | BRSAL | Salvador | Containers and Northeast coastal distribution |
South Brazil
Southern gateways connect containerized manufacturing, agricultural exports and regional distribution with the Atlantic mainline network.
Selected South Brazil ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itajai | BRIJI | Containers, reefer cargo and general freight | |
| Itajai | BRITJ | Itajai | Container and multipurpose port operations |
| Navegantes | BRNAV | Santa Catarina | Containers and regional manufacturing exports |
| Paranagua | BRPAR | Grain, fertilizer, containers and general cargo | |
| Paranagua | BRPNG | Paranagua | Bulk agricultural and container-linked cargo |
| Rio Grande | BRRGR | Rio Grande | Containers, grain, project and general cargo |
| Imbituba | BRIBB | Imbituba | Bulk, project and regional general cargo |
Northeast Brazil
Northeast ports serve coastal distribution, petrochemicals, industrial estates, agribusiness and transshipment-oriented services.
Selected Northeast Brazil ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suape | BRSUA | Ipojuca | Containers, fuels, petrochemicals and general cargo |
| Pecem | BRPEC | Pecem | Containers, steel, energy and industrial cargo |
| Fortaleza | BRFOR | Fortaleza | Containers, consumer goods and coastal distribution |
| Cabedelo | BRCAB | Cabedelo | Regional breakbulk, bulk and general cargo |
| Natal | BRNAT | Natal | Regional containers and agricultural cargo |
| Recife | BRREC | Recife | Coastal distribution and general cargo |
| Maceio | BRMCZ | Maceio | Bulk agricultural and regional cargo |
North and Amazon Basin
Northern gateways support Amazon Basin distribution, mineral exports, agricultural corridors and cargo moving between coastal and inland logistics networks.
Selected North and Amazon Basin ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vila Do Conde | BRVDC | Belem | Minerals, bulk commodities and regional cargo |
| Belem | BRBEL | Belem | Amazon Basin distribution and general cargo |
| Manaus | BRMAN | Manaus | Inland waterway containers and manufactured goods |
| Santana | BRSTA | Santana | Minerals, bulk and regional cargo |
| Itaqui | BRIQI | Sao Luis | Minerals, grains and bulk export corridors |
Brazil Port Codes and UN-LOCODEs
Brazilian port identifiers use the country prefix BR. A complete booking check should compare the UN-LOCODE, terminal name, carrier service and actual cargo handling location.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Codes
One city or port complex can appear with more than one code when different facilities, historical records or operational locations are represented. Santos, Itajai, Paranagua and Rio Grande illustrate why the terminal shown on a booking should be verified.
How to Verify a Brazil Port Code
Compare the code with the UNECE reference, then cross-check the facility in the Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier schedules and the shipping instruction remain controlling for the actual load or discharge location.
Shipping from Brazil: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port planning ranges. Actual schedules depend on the origin terminal, transshipment, vessel service, customs release, seasonality and carrier confirmation.
Brazil to East Asia
A major corridor for agricultural commodities, minerals, industrial goods and containerized exports from the Southeast and South.
Brazil to Northern Europe
Regular container services connect Brazilian exporters with European distribution hubs and manufacturing markets.
Brazil to the Mediterranean
This lane supports food products, machinery, chemicals, consumer goods and project cargo, often through direct or hub services.
Brazil to North America
North American services handle manufactured products, agricultural cargo, refrigerated goods and industrial supply chains.
Data Methodology and Sources
The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from national statistics and port league-table measures. Figures may use different definitions, facility scopes and reporting dates.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party index containing 235 Brazil ports and terminals in the Nov 2026 snapshot.
- ANTAQ — Brazilian waterway transport authority and port-movement statistics, including cargo and container reporting for the latest available annual series.
- Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports — national port policy, infrastructure and official sector information.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE reference and location-code methodology.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime location and port reference information used for navigational cross-checking.
Brazil Port FAQ
How many seaports does Brazil have?
Brazil has 235 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure describes indexed coverage and does not replace a statutory national port classification.
What is the largest port in Brazil?
Santos is generally recognized as Brazil's leading container and multipurpose gateway by national activity. Ecer Freight records Santos with the sample codes BRSTS and BRSSZ.
What is the UN-LOCODE format for Brazil?
Brazilian UN/LOCODEs begin with BR and are followed by three location characters, such as BRSTS for Santos and BRPAR for Paranagua. The exact operational code should be checked against the carrier booking.
Which Brazilian regions are most important for sea freight?
The Southeast and South are the main container and industrial freight clusters. The Northeast is important for coastal distribution and industrial cargo, while Northern gateways serve Amazon Basin and bulk logistics.
Are Brazil port throughput figures current?
The indexed-port count is based on the Nov 2026 Ecer Freight snapshot. Official throughput statistics generally follow annual publication cycles; 2025 figures and terminal-level changes should be confirmed with the latest authority and carrier releases.
Which Brazil port should be used for a shipment?
The suitable gateway depends on cargo origin, destination, equipment, commodity, inland transport and available vessel service. Santos, Itajai, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Suape and Pecem are commonly evaluated, subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.
How can a Brazil sea freight quote be requested?
For containerized cargo, compare current FCL sea freight rates or LCL sea freight rates with the confirmed origin, destination, cargo details and required equipment.
Editorial note: Brazil port coverage is maintained from the Ecer Freight port database and reviewed against publicly available authority, port, carrier and maritime reference information. Port codes and indexed facilities are refreshed as records change, while throughput and trade-lane figures follow the latest complete public reporting cycle available for review.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Brazil: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact