Brazil Soybean Transportation: Brazil Northeast Region Infrastructure Plans

摘要

The Brazilian government plans to invest, through the National Plan of Logistic and Transportation (PNLT), more than US $2.8 billion (R $5 billion) in Bahia's infrastructure to develop an intermodal system, including a port, rail links, inland water terminal, national road links and a new airport. The highest priorities are to build the West-East Railroad to promote the agribusiness and mineral sectors in the western part of the state; consolidate and expand productive markets such as cotton, coffee, corn, wood, and fruits; and attract new investments. The West-East Railroad will be a channel connecting the Center-West regions with the Atlantic coast, linking the city of Ilheus (and the new Porto Sul) and to the Norte-Sul Railroad with an extension of about 924 miles (1,490 km) of track. This would create opportunities for farmers in Barreiras and Luis Eduardo Magalhaes (Bahias west region) to export by rail through the ports of Porto Sul or Itaqui (Maranhao). Currently, soybeans produced in the western part of Bahia can be shipped only by truck. The rail lines will be built by VALEC in 3 phases at an estimated cost of about $3.47 billion (R $6 billion): Phase I, 328 miles (530 km) connecting Ilheus to Caitite (Bahia) by July 2011; Phase II, 256 miles (413 km) between Caitite-Barreiras-Sao Desiderio (Bahia) rail stations before July 2012; and Phase III, 339 miles (547 km) linking the rail lines of Barreiras-Sao Desiderio to Figueiropolis (Tocantinas) by December 2012.