VLI sets record grain transport in Brazil as US rail shipments rise

Brazilian logistics firm VLI moved a record 12.4 million metric tonnes of grain and feedstock between January and June, a 7.9 % increase over the same period last year. The surge was driven by a strong Brazilian harvest and higher demand for integrated rail corridors, with the second quarter alone handling 7.9 million tonnes – the highest ever for that period. VLI’s three main corridors (North, East and Southeast) linked key production areas to export ports in São Luís, Espírito Santo and Santos.

In the United States, the USDA reported that rail transport of grain reached 26,952 railcars in the week to 11 July, up 2 % week‑over‑week but 2 % lower than a year earlier. Barge shipments rose 3 % weekly to 691,198 tonnes, while Gulf ports loaded 24 ships – a 20 % annual increase – with a forecast of 42 ships in the following ten days. Weekly gains in rail and barge modes contrast with modest annual declines, reflecting mixed dynamics in American grain logistics.