In an effort to revolutionize and make more efficient the grain and sugar transportation network in Brazil, the leader in global agribusiness Cofco International announced investing R$1.2 billion in rail logistics – including 979 railcars and 23 locomotives – in key agricultural regions.
Produced locally by Wabtec and Greenbrier Maxion, the locomotives and railcars will be delivered starting March 2025 and Cofco’s fleet will be managed by Brazil’s largest rail logistics operator Rumo, which will integrate them into a 33,000 railcars network.
“This project will reduce road transport reliance and cut carbon emissions,” says logistics director for Cofco’s grains and oilseeds division, Fabrício Degani, pointing out the environmental benefits of eliminating nearly 100,000 annual truck trips.
Per Degani, “grain and sugar shipments will move to the Cofco Export Terminal (TEC) at STS-11 in Santos, São Paulo,” noting that this investment is in line with the STS-11 terminal’s upgrade that Cofco commited $285 million to which will increase its capacity to 14.5 million tonnes by 2026.
