Brazil’s Piauí State is preparing to export iron ore to China.

Time:2026-06-24

Brazil’s Piauí state is preparing to export iron ore to China. According to a report on June 21, the northeastern Brazilian state of Piauí is gearing up to ship iron ore to China via the Port of Luís Correia, with the first batch exceeding 110,000 tons and expected to depart in the coming weeks. On June 20, the Piauí state government stated that preparations for the export are well underway. During an inspection of the Luís Correia terminal that day, Governor Rafael Fonteles noted that the initial shipment of iron ore bound for China has been assembled and is now ready for loading. This will mark the first time Piauí’s iron ore is exported directly to the Chinese market through a port located within the state.

   Brazil’s Piauí State is preparing to export iron ore to China.

According to a report on June 21, Piauí state in northeastern Brazil is preparing to export iron ore to China via the Port of Luís Correia. The first shipment will exceed 110,000 tons and is expected to depart within the next few weeks.

  On June 20, the government of Piauí stated that preparations for the export are progressing. During an inspection of the Luís Correia terminal that day, Governor Rafael Fonteles announced that the first batch of iron ore destined for China has been assembled and is now ready for shipment. This will mark the first time Piauí’s iron ore is exported directly to the Chinese market via a port in the state.

  According to reports, approximately 100 heavy-duty trucks currently transport iron ore from mines within the state to the port each day, with the associated logistics system operating around the clock.

  As port infrastructure is still under development, this export will be handled via a maritime transshipment model. Iron ore will first be loaded onto a vessel with a deadweight of approximately 9,000 tons at the port, then transferred offshore to a larger bulk carrier carrying over 110,000 tons, before being shipped to China. Fonteles stated that iron ore exports represent only the first phase of the Port of Luís Correia’s development plan. In the future, the port will also build container terminals, a seafood terminal, and a fertilizer terminal, gradually establishing itself as a new export hub for Brazil’s Northeast region.

  With the new port now in operation, Piauí State is poised to further integrate into Brazil’s commodity trade network with China and to provide a new logistics corridor for expanding international markets in Northeast Brazil.

  Porto de Luís Correia, located on the northern coast of Piauí state, is a key infrastructure project that the state has prioritized in recent years. The local government aims to leverage the port’s development to boost the export capacity of minerals, agricultural products, and other goods, thereby strengthening the region’s economic competitiveness.

  China is Brazil’s largest trading partner and one of the most important markets for Brazilian iron ore exports. Alongside soybeans and crude oil, iron ore ranks among the three main pillars of Brazil’s exports to China.

Keywords: Brazil’s Piauí State is preparing to export iron ore to China.

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