Port of Barcarena handles around 20% of corn exported

Of the 16,99 million tons of cereal shipped between January and November this year, 3,36 million were destined for the port of the municipality of Pará. This is what the Logistics Bulletin produced by the National Supply Company (Conab) reveals. The document also shows that Barcarena has also gained space in soybean shipments. This year, around 10% of the oilseed exported volume was carried out at this port in Arco Norte.

“Santos and Paranaguá are still important for the country’s corn and soybean exports. But the ports of Arco Norte have gained an important share of the market in recent years, especially after the completion of BR-163 and investments for logistical development in the region. This means that Barcarena is now one of the main destinations for farmers who wish to sell their production, since the port unit has room to expand shipments”, ponders the Company's Operational Logistics Superintendent, Thomé Guth.

Even with the growth recorded in shipped volumes, the port of Pará operates below maximum capacity. According to the analysis published by Conab, work currently reaches between 50% and 60% of total capacity. The Private Use Terminals (TUP) in Barcarena have a static capacity between 140 thousand and 250 thousand tons. The shipping capacity is around 1,5 thousand and 2,0 thousand tons/hour.

Although the port has growth potential, the current flow condition of the BR-163 highway, which connects the center-north of the state of Mato Grosso and the south of the state of Pará, to the Port of Miritituba, municipality of Itaituba/PA, could compromise the loading dynamics in Barcarena. The challenge can be overcome with the construction of Ferrogrão, a railway that aims to consolidate the logistics corridor by making freight cheaper and boosting the flow of production from Mato Grosso to the ports of Arco Norte.

Freight market in the states – The Logistics Bulletin also provides information on the freight market outlook in important grain-producing states. According to the document, the release of warehouses to receive the next soybean harvest is a factor influencing the prices of transport services, mainly in Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás.

In the state of Mato Grosso, the large flow of fertilizers also puts pressure on prices, as interest on the part of demanders for transport on routes involving, especially, Santos and Paranaguá is high. In this scenario, the prospects for December are for prices to remain at higher levels or even increase. “A reduction in the availability of trucks is expected, due to the proximity of the end of year festivities, at the same time, logistical commitments persist. It is worth remembering that the Company estimates the largest soybean harvest for the state, expected to exceed 38 million tons”, reinforces Guth.

In the Federal District and on the Toledo and Cascavel route, in Paraná, prices for transport services fell last month when compared to October. The drop reflects the off-season period, which results in low road traffic.