Feb 10, 2025
Ferronorte Rail Terminal in Mato Grosso Returns to Normal
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Earlier last week, there was a 12-kilometer-long line of 3,500 trucks loaded with soybeans waiting to unload at Rimo's rail terminal in the city of Rondonopolis in southeastern Mato Grosso. According to the National Association of Cargo transporters (ANATC), which represents 2.2 million truck drivers in Brazil, some of the drivers had to wait 24 to 48 hours before they could unload. The Ferronorte rail terminal in Rondonopolis connects the heart of Brazil's soybean production with the Port of Santos in southeastern Brazil.
The long lines of trucks have disappeared and operations at the grain terminal have returned to normal. Wet weather had delayed the start of the soybean harvest and when it suddenly picked up, it caught everyone by surprise.
Ferronorte's rail terminal ships out eight trains per day with 11,500 tons each of soybeans to the Port of Santos. The Ferronorte Railroad is currently the only operating railroad in Mato Grosso which is the largest soybean, corn, cotton, and cattle producing state in Brazil.
The slow start to harvesting is also resulting in a slow start to Brazil's soybean exports. According to the National Association of Grain Exporters (Anec), Brazil exported 1.3 million tons of soybeans in January compared to 2.4 million tons in January of 2024. The export volume in February is also expected to be less than last year.