Fibria Starts Construction of itermodal Terminal

Fibria, Brazil, a global eucalyptus pulp producer, has started construction on an intermodal terminal located in Aparecida do Taboado, Mato Grosso do Sul, which will ship pulp produced at its new mill in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul to the Macuco Terminal at the Port of Santos in São Paulo, from where it will be exported to clients in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. 

The cornerstone ceremony held this past week was attended by the Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul Reinaldo Azambuja, the State Secretary of Environment and Economic Development Jaime Verruck, the Mayor of Aparecida do Taboado José Robson Samara Almeida, the CEO of Fibria Marcelo Castelli, the Chief Logistics & Procurement Officer of Fibria Wellington Giacomin, and other officials.

The intermodal terminal, which integrates various transportation means, such as highway and rail, in Aparecida do Taboado, is located on Highway BR 158 and will have annual pulp shipment capacity of 1.95 million metric tons. Construction is slated to be concluded in July 2017. The startup of Fibria’s second pulp production line in Três Lagoas is scheduled for early in the fourth quarter of this year.

"Fibria has been doing its homework by investing in practices that combine growth with sustainable regional development. This is one such example. Using rail transportation is more attractive economically and has a lower environmental impact. This is good for Fibria, for Aparecida do Taboado, and for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul," said Castelli.

Fibria’s investment in the new Aparecida do Taboado Intermodal Terminal is included in the overall amount, of R$7.5 billion, to be invested in the Horizonte 2 Project. The terminal will adopt the structural standard of integrated terminals located in other regions of Brazil, which serve freight hubs to expedite the use of broad-gauge railroads (rail structure that allows freight cars and locomotives to travel at higher speeds).

"Fibria is constantly seeking to enhance its processes to ensure operating excellence. We are taking yet another step to reinforce the competitive advantages of our integrated logistics model. The new terminal structure was conceived to facilitate the shipping of our production, while reducing costs and capturing efficiency gains in processes," said Chief Logistics & Procurement Officer Wellington Giacomin.

Aligned with the company’s social development strategy, the terminal’s construction will create 220 direct and indirect jobs. Once operational, the Terminal in Aparecida will strengthen the Midwest logistics corridor.