Benefícios da Intermodalidade para o custo logístico no fluxo de exportação de grãos pelo Porto de Santos

Abstract

Soybean is one of the most important commodities for the Brazilian economy, playing a central role in exports and revenue generation for the country. Brazil is currently the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, with a production of 153 million tons in 2023. The majority of this production occurs in the Central-West and North regions, making the efficient transportation of this cargo to Brazilian ports essential, particularly to the Port of Santos in São Paulo state, which is responsible for more than 50% of Brazil's soybean exports. However, the transportation of soybeans from the Central-West to the Port of Santos faces various logistical challenges, mainly due to inadequate infrastructure, high transportation costs, and environmental issues associated with road transport. The choice of the appropriate transportation mode directly impacts operational costs and, consequently, the competitiveness of Brazilian soybeans in the international market. Brazil's logistics infrastructure is primarily composed of highways, which account for about 60% of the total cargo transported in the country. However, the road transport mode faces challenges such as road deterioration and high fuel costs, which can reduce the competitiveness of Brazilian soybeans. Additionally, Brazil has an extensive railway network, which could be better utilized for cargo transportation, but this network remains underused and lacks investment in expansion and modernization. In this context, intermodality emerges as an alternative to optimize logistics costs. The combination of different transport modes, such as highways and railways, can represent an efficient solution, reducing total costs and improving the competitiveness of Brazilian soybeans.