Brazilian Bank Gives Credit Line to Logistics Firm

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL-Though Brazil has suffered similar trade declines to other growing economies, the nation’s development bank, the BNDES, approved a new credit line to America Latina Logistica (ALL) to expand the company’s rail capacity. The credit line is worth approximately $1.1 billion.

ALL, South America’s largest independent logistics supplier, will use the loan to purchase 11,000 rail cars and more than 200 new or rebuilt locomotives, as well as to extend some trunk routes. The goal is to increase cargo and container capacity for major agricultural and industrial export supply chains. The company, which offers both rail and truck service, provides intermodal transport, port operation and merchandise movement and storage throughout Brazil and Argentina. It also offers truck service only in other Latin American countries.

Last year Brazil’s trade volume declined by 19.5% from the previous year to $80.28 billion. Imports, which account for $43.5 billion of the total, fell 16.5%, while exports, which accounted for the remaining $36.78 billion, fell 22.8%.