Macroeconomic scenario

Brazil increased its agricultural production by 7.7% in 2015 when compared to 2014, reaching for the first time 209.5 million tons, according to data from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística). In 2015, the share of agribusiness in the Brazilian trade balance hit a record high, accounting for 46.2% of everything that was sold abroad.

Throughout the year, two driver strikes caused some delays to the SCL’s operations. The planting of genetically modified seeds (transgenic) has resulted in reduced use of crop protection products. Climate issues also played a role here. The El Niño phenomenon has strongly influenced agriculture, causing excessive rainfall in some regions of the country, droughts in others, delay and replanting of some crops – as is the case with the corn double crop.

Aware of this unstable scenario, inpEV mobilized further efforts to optimize processes and reduce costs starting at the beginning of the year.

New agricultural frontiers

The expansion of agricultural areas in Brazil, mainly in the Cerrado (tropical Savannah) and in regions where pastures are being replaced by crops, has led inpEV to develop new actions in order to deal with new challenges. One of them is to service the so-called Matopiba region, the initials of the states forming it: Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia.

In 2015 inpEV developed a study to map the growth of agriculture in this region and thereby define investments to consolidate the receiving infrastructure in these areas for the next decade. In 2016, the System will inaugurate the Placas central station in the district of Barreiras in West Bahia as well as an outpost in Redenção in the South of Pará.

Exceeded Performed Performed, yet close to the limit (caution) Below the estimated

*Climate factors, lower incidence of pests and delays in planting caused a divergence between the planned and performed volumes.