Ferroeste agrees to a contract with Cargill

The President of Ferroeste, Maurício Querino Theodoro, this Thursday (February 10) announced the start of the transport of soybeans of the 2010/11 harvest, after having agreed to a contract with Cargill.

As detailed by the company, this freight will be loaded at the Ferroeste terminal in Cascavel, in the state of Paraná, and will then be transported to the Port of Paranaguá, in the same State. In the beginning, the contract with Cargill covers spot operations – with immediate loading and quick transport. According to the company, a total of some 15 thousand tons of soybeans will be transported.

Mr. Theodoro declared that “the transport of soybeans as agreed with Cargill practically puts a start to the transport of the new crop by rail”. The company did not inform the value of the agreement, and said that negotiations are under way to secure further contracts of this type.

With four silos installed at the Ferroeste Terminal in the city of Cascavel, each holding ten thousand tons, Cargill expects to handle some 150 thousand tons of grain this year, between February and November.

Recently, the operator has announced the construction of a new factory for the processing of corn, seeking to serve the high demand from clients. This initiative will increase this company’s capacity to crush corn by some 30% in South America.

The production unit will receive a total investment of US$ 210.08 million, and Cargill is looking into three different Brazilian States for setting up this plant, which should start operating in 2013. According to the company, the decision will be made this quarter.

“The partnership with our clients and greater activity in the domestic market have been key factors that have brought new investment. The global leadership of the company is looking into the situation and sees the growth of Brazilian business with great optimism”, says Gonzalo Petschen, the leader of Cargill’s Starches and Sweeteners Business Unit in South America.

Fonte: Webtranspo