Ports of VLI’s Northern Corridor Break Record for Cargo throughput in 2024

The port operations of VLI’s Northern Corridor reached a record cargo movement of 13.3 million tons in 2024. Within this corridor, VLI operates the São Luís Port Terminal (TPSL) in the capital of Maranhão and also handles cargo at the Port of Pecém in Ceará. This figure represents a 6.4% increase compared to the 12.5 million tons moved in 2023. Additionally, the 2024 result surpassed the previous record of 12.9 million tons set in 2021 by 3%.

TPSL is one of VLI’s port terminals and serves as a hub for export and import flows in the company’s Northern Corridor. The corridor includes the northern stretch of the North-South Railway, which is controlled by VLI, and the Carajás Railway, where VLI trains operate under right-of-way agreements. The corridor handles cargo such as soybeans, corn, fertilizers, fuel, and pig iron and is supported by three strategically located integrated terminals in Palmeirante, Porto Nacional (Tocantins), and Porto Franco (Maranhão).

At the Port of Pecém, VLI operates under a logistics contract with the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex Development Company (CIPP), handling coal and iron ore for steel industry clients.

“VLI has a diversified cargo mix and pursues operational excellence to bring efficiency to the businesses of all the sectors we serve. These records reflect that commitment and our teams’ efforts in planning, processes, and ensuring the safety of our staff and partners,” said Ederson Almeida, Director of Operations for VLI’s Northern Corridor.

Competitiveness

The Northern Corridor attracts cargo from the MATOPIBA region (Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia) and states such as Pará, Mato Grosso, and Goiás. Over the last five years, VLI has invested around R$1.5 billion in the corridor’s infrastructure to maintain high standards of safety and operational efficiency and increase transportation capacity—for example, through the acquisition of 168 wagons and three locomotives, which have been operating in the corridor since last year.

“The Northern Arc is becoming increasingly important in the landscape of Brazilian exports, and our volumes and investments reflect this growth. The state of Maranhão, for instance, has a favorable climate and strong infrastructure and can stand out even more in national production. However, it’s essential to maintain local competitiveness, which includes avoiding new forms of taxation that could disrupt local logistics flows and negatively impact the region’s growth,” Almeida added.

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