A ship from China brought over 5,000 electric cars to Brazil at once: it was the largest operation ever recorded by the port, with 5,101 vehicles disembarking in Paranaguá.

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 09/05/2026 at 07:14

Updated on 09/05/2026 at 07:15

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A single ship from China unloaded 5,101 electric cars in Paranaguá, in the largest operation ever recorded by the Port. Understand how it was done.

The Port of Paranaguá, in Paraná, experienced its largest vehicle unloading operation in history last Tuesday (May 5, 2026). A single ship from China docked at the terminal with 5,101 electric cars on board. According to the Government of Paraná website, the operation lasted 24 hours and mobilized approximately 350 workers distributed in different shifts, under the coordination of Ascensus Gestão e Participações, a company specializing in this type of cargo.

The ship that made history in Paranaguá

The vessel responsible for the feat is the Saic Anji Harmony, flying the Liberian flag, launched in 2024. It is one of the largest vehicle cargo ships in operation worldwide, with a capacity to transport up to 7,660 units simultaneously.

A single ship from China unloaded 5,101 electric cars in Paranaguá, in the largest operation ever recorded by the Port. Understand how it was done. — Photo: Claudio Neves/Portos doParaná

In addition to its impressive size, the vessel stands out for its environmental profile: it is powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), a fuel that emits fewer pollutants than conventional petroleum derivatives — a characteristic increasingly valued in the port sector.

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Automotive sector on the rise: movement doubled in one year

The record unloading is not an isolated incident. In March 2025, another large-scale operation had already moved 3,370 electric vehicles in Paranaguá. And the year-to-date figures reveal an accelerated expansion of the segment.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the port recorded the movement of over 20,900 vehicles — including electric and combustion — a volume 100% higher than that recorded in the same period of 2025. Growth doubled in just twelve months.

Currently, Paranaguá has five maritime lines in the automotive segment in operation, consolidating its position among the main Brazilian ports for handling rolling cargo.

Infrastructure and workforce: the differentials that explain the record

For the CEO of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia, the historic performance has well-defined roots. According to him, operational efficiency — from the arrival of vessels to the completion of loading and unloading operations — is the foundation of the results.

Garcia also highlighted the quality of the professionals involved: “The workforce brings together hundreds of professionals recognized by companies in the sector as the most careful in the country,” he stated.

The director of Ascensus reinforces this point and adds another key element of the operation: the port’s physical infrastructure. Paranaguá has an exclusive berth for Ro-Ro type ships — an English acronym for vessels that allow vehicles to be loaded and unloaded directly via a ramp, without the use of cranes.

This dedicated berth eliminates competition with other types of cargo, reduces vessel waiting times, and makes the entire process more agile and predictable.

Port adopts decarbonization plan and prioritizes sustainable ships

The environmental commitment also became part of the port’s strategy. In March 2026, Portos do Paraná launched its Decarbonization Plan, developed by Fundación Valenciaport, an entity linked to the Port of Valencia, in Spain.

The plan foresees a set of actions aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in port operations. Among the measures already in force, the following stand out:

Priority berthing for ships with better environmental performance;
Incentive for the use of vessels powered by less polluting fuels, such as LNG;
Application of the guidelines provided in the Regulation for Ship Programming, Operations, and Berthing (2023 edition), which formalizes environmental criteria in berthing scheduling.

The arrival of the Saic Anji Harmony — powered by LNG and responsible for the historical record — illustrates in practice how sustainability and efficiency can go hand in hand in Brazilian port operations.

With information from the Government of Paraná website

A ship from China brought over 5,000 electric cars to Brazil at once: it was the largest operation ever recorded by the port, with 5,101 vehicles disembarking in Paranaguá.

A single ship from China unloaded 5,101 electric cars in Paranaguá, in the largest operation ever recorded by the Port. Understand how it was done.

The ship that made history in Paranaguá

Automotive sector on the rise: movement doubled in one year

Infrastructure and workforce: the differentials that explain the record

Port adopts decarbonization plan and prioritizes sustainable ships

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A ship from China brought over 5,000 electric cars to Brazil at once: it was the largest operation ever recorded by the port, with 5,101 vehicles disembarking in Paranaguá.

A single ship from China unloaded 5,101 electric cars in Paranaguá, in the largest operation ever recorded by the Port. Understand how it was done.

The ship that made history in Paranaguá

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Infrastructure and workforce: the differentials that explain the record

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