VLI renews contract to transport pig iron for export for the next two years

VLI, a logistics solutions provider that connects trains, ports, and terminals, has signed a new contract with Viena Siderrgica that secures the transportation of 720 thousand tonnes of pig iron slated for export over 2022/2023.

“We have a long-standing partnership with this client, and the magnitude of this commitment demonstrates the efficiency of integrated transportation modals to connect national production to the international market,” says VLI commercial manager André do Carmo,

The itinerary starts at a warehouse located in Açailândia (MA). VLI will transport the cargo from there entirely via the Carajás Railroad (EFC) rail network. Then, pig iron will go to the São Luís Port Terminal (TPSL) to be exported.

Viena is one of the country’s largest pig iron manufacturers, having a capacity of 600,000 tonnes per year in its operations. With a prominent presence in the foreign market, raw materials produced in Maranhão and Minas Gerais are mainly sold to the United States, as well as Asia and Europe.

An immediate product of iron ore reduction, pig iron is widely used in steel production, and national export volumes of the material have increased significantly. In 2021 alone, the country exported around three million tonnes, with the Chinese and North American markets being the main destinations.

Experts see railways as the most suitable transportation method for moving large volumes. A grain wagon, for example, holds more than 70 tonnes on average, while a double-train truck carries approximately 36 tonnes. In Brazil, interconnected transportation modals (road and rail) bring more rapidness to cargo flow.

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