Brrazil’s TCP Hosts Visit from National Rail Transportation Secretary to Discuss Rail Network Expansion

On Tuesday morning (16), TCP, the company managing the Paranaguá Container Terminal, welcomed a visit from the National Secretary for Rail Transportation, Leonardo Ribeiro, and the Coordinator of the State Rail Plan Working Group, Luiz Henrique Fagundes. Their objective was to observe the Terminal’s operations and discuss the role of the Nova Ferroeste project in expanding and modernizing the national rail network, within the context of port logistics.

Nova Ferroeste aims to extend the Paraná Oeste S.A. Railway, currently spanning just over 200 kilometers, to cover 1,567 kilometers. This extension will connect the municipalities of Maracaju (MS) and Paranaguá, while also creating branch lines between Foz do Iguaçu and Cascavel, and between Chapecó (SC) and Cascavel, establishing the second-largest grain and container corridor in the country.

Leonardo Ribeiro, the national secretary for rail transport, emphasized that “the on-site visit facilitates decision-making, enabling us to determine the optimal railroad design to boost the country’s economic and social development, reduce logistics costs, and address urban conflicts.”

During the visit, participants were introduced to TCP’s infrastructure and observed operations on the quay, in the yard, and on the railroad, which is the only one in southern Brazil with direct access to the primary zone inside the terminal. “The rail modality is extremely strategic for TCP, as it enhances customer loyalty by offering greater predictability and operational reliability, while also reducing logistics costs,” explained Giovanni Guidolim, TCP’s commercial, logistics, and service manager.

Rafael Stein Santos, TCP’s institutional and legal manager, added, “Expanding rail transport aligns with our strategy and current market trends in sustainability, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer trucks on the roads, thereby improving traffic flow in Paranaguá.”

In the first quarter of 2024, the Paranaguá Container Terminal handled 295,384 TEUs (20-foot-long containers), a record volume of both full and empty containers for the period, with 17% handled exclusively by rail.

Luiz Henrique Fagundes, coordinator of the Paraná State Railway Plan, emphasized that “the continuous growth in grain and container exports through Paranaguá necessitates investments in infrastructure to meet demand. With improved logistical efficiency, the production chain experiences reduced costs, enabling price adjustments, conquest of new markets, increased margins, reinvestment, and job creation.”

Fagundes also highlighted the terminal’s direct connection to the railroad, providing it with a competitive advantage over its peers in Brazil. He mentioned the expansion of sockets in the reefer yard, an area for refrigerated containers, which primarily handle frozen meat, the terminal’s main cargo. “The available capacity at TCP positions it as a leader within Brazil’s export chain.”

With 5,628 sockets, TCP is set to become the largest refrigerated container yard in South America.

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