New Line Within the Terminal Yard Expected to Increase Railroad Capacity by About 20%
TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, and Brado Logística announce the expansion of rail infrastructure within the Terminal’s operational yard—the only one in southern Brazil with a direct connection between its operations area and a rail spur. The initiative will be carried out by Brado and involves the construction of a third rail line and a switching yard, totaling an additional 757 meters of track. The expansion will be dedicated exclusively to the company’s operations, with the expectation of increasing rail capacity by approximately 20%.
With the expansion, the Terminal will be operationally capable of handling up to 66,000 full containers annually by rail starting in 2027, compared to the current maximum capacity of 55,000. Today, TCP operates with two tracks: while one train arrives at the operations yard, the other leaves the area, allowing for the loading and unloading of 41 containers at a time. With the new track and the switching yard, two trains will be able to operate simultaneously, while a third departs, potentially doubling the volume received per arrival to up to 82 units.
In 2024, of the 310,000 full containers exported by TCP, approximately 52,000—equivalent to 17% of shipments—were transported by Brado. The mode has a strong presence in the Terminal’s refrigerated (reefer) cargo: in 2025, approximately 55% of the volume transported by rail consisted of reefer containers, mainly animal protein destined for export, originating in Cascavel and Cambé, the state’s main agro-industrial hubs for chicken. Among the markets served is also the pulp and paper export market from the Ortigueira region (PR).
Rail transport is establishing itself as a strategic solution that strengthens cargo logistics. With a lower risk of damage, greater safety, and more reliable transit times, rail transport in Brazil integrates the supply chains of various businesses and moves agricultural pesticides, industrial inputs, consumer goods, animal feed products, and more.
According to Giovanni Guidolim, TCP’s commercial, logistics, and customer service manager, the expansion strengthens strategic services within the Terminal’s logistics portfolio.
“Rail offers predictability, reliability, and competitive logistics costs—essential factors for export chains such as pulp and paper and frozen meat. Since TCP is the only terminal in southern Brazil with a direct connection between the bonded area and the rail spur, containers can be transferred directly between railcars and the yard, eliminating the need for intermediate truck transport. This reduces logistics steps,
increases operational efficiency, and makes the service strategic and efficient for exporters,” he states.
For Vinicius Cordeiro, executive manager of the commercial and new business division at Brado, the expansion of operations is directly linked to the strategy of increasing the railway’s share in the logistics matrix of the company’s clients.
“This expansion represents a significant step forward for the Paraná corridor, especially at a time when the market demands greater predictability, scale, and logistical efficiency. By establishing a dedicated operation at the Terminal, we create real conditions for growth for our clients, particularly in the region’s agribusiness sector. Furthermore, the expansion enables more efficient and sustainable logistics, allowing for the diversification of new products and partnerships with greater capacity, competitiveness, increased reliability, and reduced environmental impact. It is a move that enhances our clients’ efficiency and expands the railway’s role in the logistics matrix,” he states.
Furthermore, the expansion in Paranaguá also aligns with the strengthening of a sector of great importance to the country.
“Paraná has a robust presence in animal protein, leading the nation in chicken production with nearly 35% of the market, as well as ranking second in pork production, which demands efficient logistics solutions. At Brado, chicken accounts for 24% of the company’s shipments, and it is precisely to accommodate this volume that we are moving forward with expanding the terminal’s infrastructure, creating conditions to expand the use of rail and make this operation even more strategic,” adds the executive.
Investments expand logistics capacity and strengthen rail operations
The expansion of the railroad is part of a broad range of investments made by TCP to strengthen its logistics infrastructure. Over the past five years, the company has invested approximately R$ 500 million in operational improvements and in expanding the terminal’s capacity.
To meet the growth in rail traffic, the area now operates with three RTG (Rubber-Tyred Gantry) cranes—one more than before. This equipment underwent an electrification process, with the installation of overhead power lines along the rail area, an initiative that resulted in a reduction of approximately 771 tons of carbon emissions per year from the operation of the three units.
In addition, TCP invested in the deployment of new Terminal Tractors (TTs) to optimize rail operations and in the redesign of the Terminal gate, allowing access to the third line and greater fluidity in cargo handling.
In 2023, TCP also inaugurated a 13.8 kV power substation, responsible for powering both the equipment and the expansion of the terminal’s refrigerated container (reefer) area, which is now the largest in South America, with 5,268 outlets.
Brado, in turn, invested in new rails and three track-moving devices (AMVs) for TCP’s expansion in 2026. This equipment enables the transfer of a train from one line to another, focusing on traffic routing and maneuvering. In addition, it also acquired other components to consolidate this structure, such as support plates, anchors, welds, and fastening clamps.
For Washington Renan Bohnn, TCP’s logistics operations manager, the investments made in recent years aim to prepare the Terminal for sustained operational growth.
“These investments strengthen TCP’s logistics infrastructure and allow rail operations to evolve with greater efficiency and predictability. By expanding the Terminal’s capacity and better integrating transport modes, we are able to offer more competitive solutions to our customers and contribute directly to the efficiency of Brazil’s foreign trade logistics chain,” concludes Bohnn.
About TCP
TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, is the largest port terminal in southern Brazil, according to ANTAQ, and one of the leading terminals in South America, operating since 1998 on the coast of Paraná. Recognized for its modern infrastructure and comprehensive solutions for importers and exporters, the company boasts the largest reefer yard in South America, its own bonded warehouse, a specialized area for dangerous goods, and is the only terminal in southern Brazil with a direct rail connection to the bonded area. TCP stands out as one of the main export corridors for Brazilian agribusiness, leading domestic shipments of chicken meat and expanding its share of beef exports, in addition to being a benchmark in agribusiness product shipments.
About Brado
Brado is a national leader in multimodal logistics services. It has its own infrastructure consisting of 22 locomotives, approximately 5,000 containers, and 1,000 railcars, along with equipment, warehouses, and terminals, complemented by strategic partnerships in the country’s major consumption centers. With operations increasingly tailored to the needs of the import, export, and domestic markets, the company values excellence in container handling in Brazil, with a focus on multimodal integration.
