Arauco Lays the Cornerstone of the Sucuriú Project Railway

Brazil’s first shortline after the new regulatory framework opens a new chapter for sustainable logistics in the pulp sector

Arauco celebrated this Friday (6) the laying of the Cornerstone of the Sucuriú Project Railway in Inocência (MS). The event brought together, in a historic milestone for the sector and for the country’s logistics infrastructure, company executives, the mayor of Inocência, Antonio Ângelo Garcia dos Santos (known as Toninho da Cofap), Paulo Hartung, executive president of IBÁ, Guilherme Theo, director-general of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), Senator Tereza Cristina, Minister of Planning and Budget Simone Tebet, Minister of Transport Renan Filho, as well as partners such as AFRY, Castilho, Comexport, Construcap, EPYA, GBMX, Randon, Rumo, and Wabtec.

The adoption of rail transport will bring significant benefits to operations and to the state. “This shortline represents a milestone within Brazil’s new railway regulatory framework. It is a modern model that expands the country’s logistics capacity, strengthens integration with national networks, and creates real conditions for new private investments in infrastructure,” commented Carlos Altimiras, president of Arauco Brazil. “When we talk about connecting, we are talking about something greater than infrastructure. We are talking about bringing Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, and the city of Inocência to the world. About transforming a productive territory into a global benchmark, capable of positioning Brazilian pulp competitively in the main international markets,” the executive concluded.

The new railway will make it possible to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 94% and eliminate approximately 190 truck trips per day from highways, enhancing safety and consolidating a more sustainable and efficient logistics model.

With an estimated investment of R$2.4 billion, the project will include 26 locomotives, 721 railcars, and the capacity to transport up to 9,600 tons per train — a modern, technological solution aligned with the innovative DNA of the Sucuriú Project. “Today, by laying the cornerstone of this railway line, we show that well-planned dreams come off paper, and when they do, they drive development, sustainability, and the future,” emphasized Alberto Pagano, Logistics and Supply Director of Arauco Celulose Brasil.

The route includes 45 kilometers of railway track, in addition to 9 kilometers within the plant, running parallel to highways MS-377 and MS-240 until connecting with the Rumo Malha Norte network. The project is expected to generate approximately one thousand jobs and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027, in line with the start of operations at the mill.