Rumo’s Railways Power Brazil’s Farm Exports to New Heights

Brazil’s largest rail operator, Rumo, has reported a major jump in its freight volumes for the second quarter of 2025. According to the company’s official data, Rumo transported 21.8 billion ton-kilometers (TKU) in the quarter.

This marks a 25.3% increase compared to last year, when floods in southern Brazil disrupted the network. In June alone, Rumo moved 7.45 billion TKU, up 4% from a year earlier, though slightly less than in May.

Most of this cargo came from Brazil’s booming farm sector. In June, Rumo carried 3.94 billion TKU of soybeans, 878 million TKU of soy meal, and 560 million TKU of fertilizers.

Industrial goods made up 1.12 billion TKU, with fuels and containers also contributing. Rumo’s growth comes from heavy investment in its railways.

The company is spending R$2 billion this year to extend tracks in Mato Grosso, a key farm region. It also introduced longer, more efficient trains, which now carry more cargo per trip and use less fuel.

Brazil’s rail freight market is worth over USD 7 billion in 2025 and is expected to keep growing. Rumo forecasts it will move up to 86 billion TKU this year, with profits also set to rise.

The company’s upgrades help speed up exports through Santos, Brazil’s main port for grains. This surge in rail transport matters for Brazil’s economy. Efficient railways make it cheaper and faster for farmers to get their crops to port.

That keeps Brazil’s exports strong and supports jobs across the country. Rumo’s results show that better logistics can help Brazil’s farm sector reach new markets and grow even more.

Rumo’s performance signals that investment in railways pays off. The company’s focus on moving more goods, faster and at lower cost, is helping Brazil’s agriculture stay competitive worldwide.