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South Cone artery to boost farm exports to Asia
South Cone artery to boost farm exports to Asia
Sao Paulo, 28 February (Argus) — The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor, a new logistics artery that will connect Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile, is expected to boost agricultural product exports — such as meat, processed foods and cellulose — from the region to Asian markets, while increasing imports of fertilizers and farm inputs, according to the agriculture and livestock federation of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Famasul. The corridor will reduce the average transportation time for Brazilian goods to Asian ports to 42 days from 55 days, reducing logistics costs by around 20pc, according to the government of central-western Mato Grosso do Sul state. Approximately 65pc of the state's exports, which is an important agricultural production hub, are destined for Asian countries. The route could also encourage exports to potential markets in Oceania and the Americas' west coast. New road route crossing South America The 3,250km (2,020-mile) road route will reduce dependence on other logistics routes, as well as the cost of freight to Asia, Famasul said. It will connect the Chilean ports of Iquique, Antofagasta, Mejillones and Tocopilla to the Brazilian port of Santos, crossing eight territories in four South American countries: the regions of Tarapaca and Antofagasta in Chile; the provinces of Jujuy and Salta in Argentina; the departments of Boqueron, Presidente Hayes and Alto Paraguay in Paraguay; and the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo in Brazil. It will cross tropical wetlands, grasslands, the Andes mountains and the Atacama desert of Chile to reach the Pacific Ocean. The 24,000km span between Brazil and China would be reduced by approximately 5,479km, according to Famasul. In 2023, the Asian country was the final destination of around 34pc of all Brazilian agricultural exports, according to the agriculture and livestock ministry. The Santos port, one of the main shipping points for Brazilian goods, handled more than 131mn metric tonnes (t) of agricultural products in 2024, according to the Santos Port Authority (SPA), with emphasis on sugar, soybeans, corn and coffee shipments. Vessels traveling from Santos to China must cross the Panama Canal or the Cape of Good Hope, taking more than 50 days to make the journey. Main challenges One of the project's main challenges is that Brazil and Paraguay are not part of the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets, according to Mato Grosso do Sul state government. This agreement aims to promote seamless multilateral road transport, simplifying and standardizing processes. Brazil's acceptance to the agreement has been under discussion in congress since September 2024, while Argentina, Chile and 76 other countries have joined it. Mato Grosso do Sul's government said that it is necessary to unify migration and customs processes to make the future corridor a high-performance logistics route. While Brazil's entry now depends solely on congressional approval, Paraguay has not yet begun its accession process. Standardizing customs requirements between Brazil-Paraguay would reduce the waiting period for import and export processes by 90pc, according to Mato Grosso do Sul's government. Currently, customs clearance takes up to 20 days and is carried out between the cities of Ponta Pora, in Mato Grosso do Sul, and Pedro Juan Caballero, in Paraguay. The expectation is that the waiting period would take up to two days after both countries join TIR. Construction and start of operations The main hurdle to build the route is the binational bridge over the Paraguay River, between the cities of Porto Murtinho, in Mato Grosso do Sul, and Carmelo Peralta, in Paraguay. Construction work of the 1.3km-long and 350m-wide bridge has advanced by about 65pc and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Paraguayan public works and communications ministry. The R576mn ($99.7mn) project was funded by the Itaipu binational hydroelectric power plant administration, which the two countries share. Also, about 225km of roads still need to be paved on the PY-15 highway, between the Paraguayan cities of Mariscal Estigarribia and Pozo Hondo, on the border with Argentina. A second binational bridge over the Pilcomayo River — between Pozo Hondo, in Paraguay, and Mision La Paz, in Argentina — is still on the drawing board, as is another 20km unpaved stretch on the Argentinian side. The financial fund for the development of the countries of the Río de la Plata basin, Fonplata, financed approximately $354mn for works on the Paraguayan side and is negotiating contributions with the Argentinian government to complete the construction there. The Inter-American Development Bank contributed $600,000, with the Brazilian government providing another R472mn ($80mn). By Bruno Castro Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Upper Mississippi River ice thickens before March
Upper Mississippi River ice thickens before March
Houston, 27 February (Argus) — Ice measurements near the upper Mississippi River were thicker than the previous readings, the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) reported on 26 February. The Lake Pepin ice depth results traditionally help determine when the upper Mississippi River will reopen for spring transit. The second ice measurements taken this week revealed deeper ice than the week prior . The ice along mile 770 of the lake thickened by 1in to 20in which is also thicker than the same time last year. This measurement is 4in more than the five-year average for the period and slightly above average for overall ice thickness for this time of the year, according to the Corps. Nevertheless, ice did melt at the ends of the Lake because of warmer temperatures this week. If high temperatures and winds continue through the coming weeks, Lake Pepin's ice will begin to dissipate, said Corps civil engineering technician Alan Vanguilder. But should temperatures fail to increase by mid March, the reopening of the upper Mississippi could be delayed. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Illinois River lock reopening delayed: Corps
Illinois River lock reopening delayed: Corps
Houston, 26 February (Argus) — The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) delayed the reopening of the Lockport Lock along the Illinois River by over a month after finding significant cracks in the lower gate walls. The Corps now estimates the lock to resume operations between 30 April and 6 May at the earliest. The Lockport Lock was previously scheduled to reopen on 25 March , after the two gates on the upper end of the lock were replaced. When the Corps dewatered the lock chamber earlier this month, severe cracks were found in both the lower gates. The Lockport Lock grants access to major trading hubs Chicago, Illinois, and Burns Harbor, Indiana, at the end of the Illinois River. The lock has been closed since 28 January. Major barge carriers had already planned transit routes for the previous reopening timeline of the Lockport Lock. These dates have been paused until April, instead of late February. The delayed timeline will prolong shipment of major products such as metals, asphalt, petcoke, fertilizer and biofuels. Another 5-6 weeks of work will be required for replacement of the lower gate walls, said the Corps. Both lower gates need to be pulled, and there are no spare castings for the Lockport gates, incurring an extended timeline. A different heavy lift crane must be brought in and funding must be acquired for the additional interim and permanent repairs, said the Corps. Work has already begun for replacement of the upper gates, including bulkheads, rebar installation and upper gates pulled into the chamber. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Argentina farmer sales rise further
Argentina farmer sales rise further
Kyiv, 26 February (Argus) — Argentina's farmers continued to increase sales of their main crops — soybeans, corn and wheat— in the week ending 19 February after some producing regions received favourable rainfall . Soybeans Soybean sales to the export market totalled 131,900t for the reporting week, more than double the latest five-week average of 61,100t, according to agricultural ministry data. Almost all sales were for the new crop year, with 129,900t sold for the 2024-25 crop and just 2,000t sold for the 2023-24 crop. Domestic soybean sales rose sharply to 915,700t from 492,300t a week earlier, 50pc above the five-week average of 606,120t. Almost 425,000t was sold for the 2024-25 crop and more than 491,000t for the 2023-24 crop. Grains Corn sales to the export market in the reporting week were 866,200t, up by 13.5pc from the five-week average of 763,120t. In contrast to the previous week, sales were primarily for the old crop year, with 481,600t sold for the 2023-24 crop and 380,500t sold for the 2024-25 crop. Sales of the 2022-23 crop fell to 4,100t, compared with the previous five-week average of 12,100t. Argentinian farmers sold 458,900t of wheat for export, up by 38pc from the five-week average of 332,520t. Most sales were for the 2024-25 crop at 456,700t, with only 2,200t for the 2023-24 crop year. Farmer sales of wheat to the domestic market were 105,000t for the week, up by 19pc from the five-week average of 88,280t. Sales for the 2024-25 crop year were 102,100t, with just 2,900t for the 2023-24 crop. In contrast, feed barley sales to the export market for the week ending 19 February fell to 64,100t from last week's 104,400t, and were 7pc below the five-week average of 93,180t. Export sales were almost entirely of the new 2024-25 crop, with only 100t sold for the 2023-24 crop. By Alexey Yeromin Argentina weekly crop sales, t 19 Feb 12 Feb Five-week average Total export sales Corn 866.2 802.9 763.1 Wheat 458.9 327.1 332.5 Barley 64.1 104.4 93.2 Soybeans 131.9 115.4 61.1 Total domestic sales Corn na na na Wheat 105.0 89.7 88.3 Soybeans 915.7 492.3 608.1 — Argentina agriculture ministry, Argus Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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