In October last year, the Brazilian river port of Murtinho reopened for the export of sugar traffic, despatching 6,000 tonnes to neighbouring Uruguay. According to the state governor Reinaldo Azambuja, the use of the port will provide an alternative to the Paraguay River routes for producers in Mato Grosso do Sul.

This year, it is expected that the port will handle around 300,000 tonnes of dry bulk. In addition to sugar, Murtinho is expected to handle some of the record output of grain, of which the state exported 3.5 million tonnes in 2015.

It is hoped that with the reactivation of the port Chinese investors, which have build a processing plant at Maracaju, will resume conversations about investing in the soya industry in the region.

BC