LHG Mining tests Port of Rosario for future barge unloading

LHG Mining is testing the Port of Rosario as a possible alternative for future barge unloading operations linked to its river logistics project, although the company’s priority will remain Nueva Palmira when operational conditions allow.

The AAL Hamburg (IMO 9958767) arrived at the Argentine port on Thursday (2) morning carrying 12 barges and four sets of barge covers. The covers were transported inside two of the units, according to Pablo Zengarini, international logistics specialist at LHG Mining, in comments to Altamar News.

The call marks the tenth barge discharge operation for the company’s logistics project. This time, however, the operation is being used to assess whether Rosario can serve as a backup option for future shipments, particularly when berth availability at Nueva Palmira is constrained.

Zengarini said the choice of Rosario reflects an operational need rather than a permanent change in strategy. The company wants to evaluate whether the Argentine port can offer competitive handling times and logistical advantages because of its greater proximity to Corumbá, the main destination for the barges.

The main reason for testing another port is to reduce exposure to delays at Nueva Palmira, especially when the South berth is occupied by other cargoes such as fertilizers or grains. For project cargo vessels, waiting time can generate significantly higher costs.

The Port of Rosario barge unloading trial will help determine whether the terminal can work as a “Plan B” when conditions in Nueva Palmira do not allow immediate handling. Still, Zengarini said the Brazilian mining company will continue to prioritize the Uruguayan port whenever scheduling allows.

Rosario evaluates project cargo role

Rosario’s interest in joining the project is not new. According to Zengarini, port authorities had shown willingness to collaborate since learning about the initiative and worked with the company to make the first operation possible.

The unloading also represents a new type of operation for Rosario, where activity is mainly concentrated in containers, agricultural cargo and industrial goods. A project cargo move involving barges of this scale is unusual for the terminal.

Whether LHG Mining uses Rosario again will depend on the company’s assessment after the discharge is completed. The company will review operational times, logistics performance and any cost or time advantages before deciding, case by case, which port to use for future shipments.

Zengarini also noted that adding a new port to the operation requires a complex process involving permits, documentation, personnel coordination and advance planning. That preparation began early because of the narrow window between the vessel’s departure from the shipyard and its arrival in the Paraguay-Paraná waterway system.

The broader program calls for LHG Mining to add 400 barges and tugboats by 2028, doubling its current fleet. The plan is intended to strengthen the link between mining production and large-scale river logistics.

The first 16 barges arrived at Nueva Palmira in November 2025, also aboard the AAL Hamburg. Once discharged, the units are moved to Corumbá, in Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state, where they are incorporated into iron ore transport along the river corridor.

For LHG Mining, the Port of Rosario barge unloading operation is less a shift away from Nueva Palmira than a test of logistical flexibility. If the trial proves efficient, Rosario could become an additional option for project cargo linked to the company’s fleet expansion on the Paraguay-Paraná waterway.

Source: Altamar News

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