Freight transportation by railroads increased by 1.2% in 2011

The freight handling by the railroad industry concessionaires reached 475.1 million useful tons in 2011, which is 1.2% higher than the result recorded in 2010 (470.1 million), said on this Monday (April 9) the National Rail Transport Association (ANTF).

The growth of the volume transported in 2011 was below 530 million useful tons, which was initially expected by ANTF. According to the CEO of ANTF, Rodrigo Vilaça, the result is due to problems such as rain, bottlenecks in infrastructure and also the crisis in the global economy, which influenced the export of iron ore, the main product handled on rails in the country.

According to the association, US$ 2.58 billion was invested last year in the existing railroad network and under the private sector administration. Out of this amount, US$ 2.5 billion was made by the concessionaires, and US$ 80 million by the Government.

Iron ore and coal were the freights that were more transported by railroads in the last year (76.61%). Agribusiness represented 11.51% of all handling.

ANTF also made a review of the 15 years of concession of the railroads. According to the organization, from 1997 to 2011, the freight handling grew by 87.6% (from 253.3 million to 475.1 million useful tons) and the investment in the period totaled US$ 16.19 billion – US$ 15.58 billion performed by the concessionaires.

Between 1997 and 2011, also according to ANTF, the number of direct and indirect jobs in the railroad network grew 148.8% – increased from 16,662 to 41,455. The organization reported that the accident rate on the lines fell 81.2% in the period.

The number of locomotives increased from 1,154 to 3,045, and the number of cars increased from 43,816 to 100,924 over this period of 15 years. According the ANTF, by 2020 the concessionaires must have 5,000 locomotives and 140,000 cars. For the CEO of ANTF, the numbers show that “the privatization of the railroads went well and is on the right track.”
Vilaça charge the government to grant tax benefits and, especially, line of credit with low interest rates and long term for the production of cars and locomotives in the country. According to him, if it is done, the industry is expected to reach 6,000 locomotives and 200,000 cars in 2020.

“We will take this request to the ministers Fernando Pimentel (Development, Industry and Trade) and Guido Mantega (Finance),” said the CEO of ANTF.

For 2012

This year, the estimate of the association is that concessionaires will invest about US$ 2.89 billion in the railroad network. As for the freight handling, it should be 522 million useful tons in 2012.