Brazil's cargo handling capacity is expected to rise to 1 billion metric tons (mt) annually by late 2012/early 2013; in 2010, Brazil's total port-handling capacity totaled 834 million mt. And by 2022, Brazil wants to expand the country's cargo handling capacity to 1.7 billion mt per year.
The expansion investments come on the heels of growing export demand, particularly of iron ore and steel products. In 2010, ores accounted for 15 percent of all cargo handled throughout Brazil's ports. The current expansions in various steelmaking sectors in Brazil are expected to raise steel exports to 15 million mt by 2015 from the 11 million mt Brazil's ports currently handle annually.