VLI breaks record in sugar transportation via the Central-Atlantic Railway

VLI achieved the highest volume of sugar transported in its history by Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica (FCA). 6,2 million tons were transported in the 2024/25 harvest, which ended in March. The number surpassed the performance of the previous season, despite the 5,3% drop in production in the Center-South of Brazil.

The result came despite adverse weather conditions that affected the production of the commodity. The greater compaction of the sugar required solutions to facilitate unloading. The company adopted pneumatic tampers, implemented minimum rest times at the terminals in Uberaba (MG) and Guará (SP) and applied spraying in the warehouses to balance the temperature of the cargo.

In ports, the company maintained its previous performance, with 5,0 million tons shipped at the Luiz Antônio Mesquita Port Integration Terminal (Tiplam), in Santos (SP). The site operates with 100% of the flow by rail, which reduces CO2 emissions and improves traffic in Baixada Santista.

Working together with customers has contributed to growth. Czarnikow, for example, increased Tiplam shipments by 32%. According to Marcelo Cardoso, VLI's operations director for the Southeast Corridor, the company's expertise in FCA allowed it to maximize efficiency and achieve the new milestone.

The Central-Atlantic Railway connects production hubs in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás and the Federal District to the coast of São Paulo. In addition to sugar, the FCA transports grains and fertilizers, with transshipment taking place at the Guará and Uberaba integration terminals.