The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved support in the amount of 2 billion reais for Rumo S.A. to complete the first stage of the Mato Grosso State Railway (FMT), between Rondonópolis (MT) and the BR-070 terminal, in Dom Aquino (MT), with a length of 162 kilometers. BNDES supports the project through the subscription of debentures, in the total amount of the issuance (2 billion reais), which was coordinated by the Bank itself. The works related to the first phase are expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. The entire FMT project calls for the implementation of approximately 743 km, divided into five phases, to connect the municipalities of Rondonópolis and Lucas do Rio Verde, with the inclusion of a branch line to Cuiabá. The execution of the works is expected to generate 114 thousand jobs. FMT is one of the most relevant initiatives in the expansion of transportation infrastructure and aims to develop the Mato Grosso region and the railway network to capture a significant share of grain transportation, mainly soy and corn, from one of the largest producing regions in the country. In addition, the railway will increase the outflow capacity of the state’s agro-industrial production and will integrate road and rail modes. The new terminal near BR-070 will play a key role in the logistics process, serving as a hub for cargo transported by road and its transfer to the rail mode. With capacity to ship up to 10 million tons of grains per year, mainly soy and corn, the new terminal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. “This railway represents a significant step forward for the outflow of Mato Grosso’s agricultural production, with lower logistics costs, increased competitiveness of Brazilian products in the international market, and relief from the overload on highways – priorities of President Lula’s government. In addition, the railway will have positive impacts on environmental sustainability, since rail transport has lower carbon emission rates compared to road transport,” says BNDES president Aloizio Mercadante. “Long-term investment in railway expansion is a strong lever for competitiveness and sustainability for agribusiness and for the national economy. Our tracks play an essential role in connecting diverse production chains to international markets with efficiency, safety, and low carbon. In this way, we help the country make its competitive advantages count, taking a leading role on the global stage,” adds Natália Marcassa, Rumo’s vice president. Rumo is a frequent issuer in the Brazilian credit market. In 2025 alone, three issuances were carried out, totaling 4.8 billion reais raised in incentivized debentures with the aim of financing its investments in the Mato Grosso Railway and the Paulista Network, among others. BNDES’s support is part of this amount and complements the funding structure required for the investments. Expansion – The current railway network, with around 30 thousand kilometers, is undergoing expansion and modernization, with projects totaling more than 12 thousand km of new tracks authorized or underway, crossing several regions of the country. The Government of Brazil has prioritized the sector, allocating 94.2 billion reais until 2026 for works such as the West–East Integration Railway (Fiol), the Midwest Integration Railway (Fico) and the Transnordestina. In 2024, the railway sector reached significant milestones. According to the National Association of Rail Transporters (ANTF), general cargo transport hit a record of 150 million useful tons (TU), surpassing the highest volume of the last 19 years, recorded in 2023. In total, including iron ore, the railways moved 540 million TU, an increase of 1.83% compared to 2023, which was already the best result in relation to the previous six years. Iron ore was the main product transported, totaling 390 million TU. Among general cargo, notable growth was seen in pulp (up 26.4%), sugar (up 15.8%), and containers (up 8.73%).
