Freight movement on the Brazilian rail network grew by 87.6% between 1997 (the year that sector privatization began) and 2011. According to a study by the National Association of Rail Carriers (ANTF), annual freight movement rose from 253.3 million tons in 1997 to 475 million tons in 2011. Freight movement registered an increase of 5 million tons compared to 2010.

The sector recorded 149% more jobs between 1997 and 2011, and a 22% reduction in fuel consumption. According to the Rail Freight Balance, released today (April 9) by the ANTF, network productivity has increased 111.7% since 1997. The study also highlights the expansion and modernization of the locomotive and freight car fleet, and “a leap of more than 82 times” in the transport of containers.

“These numbers are impressive, indeed striking, because there has been little expansion of the network over the last 15 years,” said the ANTF President, Rodrigo Vilaca. “Almost nothing was done by the Government in terms of modernizing the existing rail network. Works announced in 2003 have not yet to have the effect imagined”, he added.