VLI’s Tiplam terminal posts record cargo shipment after draft expansion

VLI reached an important milestone in August by recording the largest cargo shipment in the history of the Luiz Antônio de Mesquita Integrated Terminal (Tiplam), in the Baixada Santista. Following the deepening of the terminal’s draft, which enabled the facility to receive larger vessels, the MV Sasebo Glory — the largest ship ever to dock at Tiplam — was loaded with 83,000 tonnes of VHP sugar belonging to bp bioenergy, one of Brazil’s bioenergy leaders, bound for the Middle East.

The dredging works at Tiplam, completed in the first half of 2025, increased the terminal’s maximum draft — the distance between the waterline and the bottom of the vessel — from 13.35m to 14.10m. As a result, ships operating there can now carry about 10% more cargo. Since then, the company has been posting significant operational records. In addition to the Sasebo Glory shipment in August, VLI also reached a record in July for the receipt and unloading of fertilizers from a single vessel, with 72,600 tonnes.

“Our focus is on operational excellence, aiming to add value to our clients’ businesses. We seek to maximize the use of our assets to deliver productivity gains throughout the logistics chain. The records we have achieved since Tiplam’s draft was increased are a direct result of this strategy,” said Marcelo Cardoso, operations director for VLI’s Southeast Corridor.

“The expansion of Tiplam’s infrastructure represents a major gain for bp bioenergy’s operations. The ability to load larger volumes increases our export scale, reduces logistics costs, and opens new opportunities for growth in the international market,” added Ricardo Carvalho, commercial director at bp bioenergy.

Tiplam plays a strategic role in the sugar market, handling 25% of all sugar exported through Santos.

The Southeast Corridor of FCA

Tiplam is the export and import gateway of VLI’s Southeast Corridor. Its coverage area includes São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, and the Federal District, mainly moving sugar, grains, and fertilizers. The corridor, which uses the Centro-Atlântica Railway (FCA), includes two integrated terminals in Uberaba (MG) and Guará (SP), where cargo is transferred to the rail system.

Beyond offering high efficiency to clients, Tiplam also brings positive impacts to the Baixada Santista region, as all of its export flows are carried out by rail. This contributes to local traffic and environmental improvements, since greenhouse gas emissions per tonne moved by rail are one-sixth of those generated by road transport.

Source: VLI Logística 

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