Kellanova Launches Coastal Shipping in Brazil to Cut Emissions, Shift from Road Freight

Kellanova, the manufacturer of iconic snack brands such as Frosted Flakes and Pringles, completed its first round of tests using coastal shipping (cabotage) to transport products in the Manaus (AM) region.

The trial began in March 2025, involving two shipping companies that transported an average of eight shipments per month. During this period, the company discontinued road transport to serve the Northern region of Brazil.

According to a statement released by Kellanova, the shift will eliminate 35 truck routes per day, resulting in a daily reduction of 364 kg of CO₂ emissions — equivalent to 8,736 kg per month and 100,564 kg annually. Given the location and specific characteristics of this operation, Kellanova’s technical team is strategically analyzing viable cabotage routes, whether due to cost or operational complexity.

The company is not the first to test coastal shipping for food transportation. In 2023, Mondelez Brasil — the owner of brands such as Bis, Oreo, Trident, and Tang — launched a pilot project in partnership with Aliança Navegação e Logística to ship its cargo over long distances between different regions of Brazil.

Mondelez is working to consolidate a shift from a “purely road-based” logistics model, adopting coastal shipping integrated with other modes to transport both raw materials and finished products. The goal is to reduce logistics costs by approximately 20% within the next 12 months, with an expected increase in volume this year. Products such as Club Social, Oreo, Trakinas, and Chocolicia are currently being transported by sea from Vitória de Santo Antão (PE) to Louveira (SP) and São José dos Pinhais (PR).

What is Cabotage?

Cabotage refers to the transportation of cargo or passengers between seaports or river ports within the same country. In this case, Kellanova leveraged the regional river network to move goods between locations near the capital of Amazonas. Today, Brazil has 12,000 km of navigable waterways, with the potential to reach 42,000 km, according to the 2025 New PAC (Growth Acceleration Program) plans.

According to the Brazilian Coastal Shipping Association (Abac), cabotage is safer, more economical, and emits at least four times less CO₂ than road freight transport. Furthermore, Abac states that it contributes to the development of the country’s shipbuilding industry and also allows for the expansion of passenger transport. One significant challenge is the decline in river draft levels during the dry season, which has been exacerbated by climate change.

Source: Mobilize.org
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