Brazzilmag reported that the port of Santos in southeastern Brazil had a throughput of 38.4 million tonnes in the first half of 2009, up by 3% YoY. It was the second best result ever for the period, losing only to 2007, when the throughput was 38.8 million tonnes.

Exports in the first 6 months of 2009 totaled 28.6 million tonnes, up by 18.6% YoY. The highlights were agricultural cargo and products and liquid bulk oil derivatives. Imports decreased by 25.5% YoY, despite the increase in imports of LPG, salt and wheat.

According to the management of the port complex, a new all time high has been recorded in the number of ships docked in the first half of the year. Santos received 2,865 vessels, 1.3% more than the figure recorded in the same period last year of 2,828 ships.

Santos tops the list of Brazilian ports in terms of share of the balance of trade, with 27% or USD 34 billion out of a national total of USD 126 billion. It is worth noting that with regard to the volume shipped through the Port of Santos, countries in the Far East were the destination for 5.1 million tonnes or 20.5% of total exports from the port.

A survey conducted by the International Congress and Convention Association, the world's foremost organization in the sector, reveals that Brazil ranks 7th among the countries that host the most international events worldwide. There were 254 international events in the country in 2008 that met the criteria of the association, consolidating Brazil among the elite of the world's ten leading event hosting countries.

(Sourced from www.brazzilmag.com)