Super grain carrier docks at the Port of Itaqui

On the first week of May, the super grain carrier Kydonia docked at Port of Itaqui for a grain loading operation of 80,270 tonnes of soybeans destined for Spain. This represents the largest grain volume ever operated in a single vessel by Tegram since the terminal became operational in 2015. The cargo belongs to CLI – Corredor Logística Internacional S.A. 

Before Kydonia, the largest grain volume handled at Itaqui’s Tegram in a single-vessel operation had been 76 thousand tonnes.

According to CLI Operations Director Marcos Pepe Bertoni, three factors made this record shipment possible: better operational efficiency, specialized staff training, and the fact that CLI is the only ‘white flag’ terminal operating in Itaqui, that is, whose owner is not a trading company or a transport company.

“The Maranhão-state Grain Terminal (Tegram), which is a highlight in the Port of Itaqui, is one of the largest grain terminals in Brazil and has become the departure point for much of the soybeans, soy bran, and corn produced instate, and in Piauí, Tocantins, and in the northeast of Mato Grosso. Thus, the region’s grain producers can increase both the production area and their productivity knowing that they will be able to sell at very competitive prices,” adds Marcos Pepe.

See below the track record of Brazilian exports of soybeans and corn via Port of Itaqui from January 2021 to March 2022. The data is from DataLiner.

Brazilian exports of soybeans and corn via Port of Itaqui | Jan 2021 – Mar 2022 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

According to Randal Luciano, Tegram Consortium Operations Manager, it is a natural trend in the global market to operate with larger vehicles in all transportation modals, such as trucks and railway compositions. That is also true for maritime transportation, as can be seen by various types of vessels that allow for larger cargo volumes.

With Tegram operating in expanded mode, which includes two berths in simultaneous activity, in addition to the VLI terminal, the expectation is to close 2022 with a volume greater than the 13.9 million tonnes of grain handled at the Port of Itaqui. Tegram alone expects to hit the 11 million tonne mark this year.

Sharing is caring!