Find out which railroads are connected to the Tubarão Port Complex

One of the smallest states in Brazil, Espírito Santo is a major exporter of iron ore from our country. With more than 50% of its exports coming from the product, the State stands out nationally with tons and tons of exported ore. The main ore outlet is the Tubarão Port Complex, located in Vitória.

Capital of the state, Vitória is only the fourth most populous city in the state, after Cariacica, Serra and Vila Velha. With just over 360,000 inhabitants in the municipality itself, the region called “Grande Vitória” has about 2 million people. Within the city, more specifically on the mainland, is located the Tubarão Port Complex, one of the largest exporters of iron ore and pellets on the planet.

We will tell you a little more about the rich history of the place, which has more than 50 years of history, in addition to telling which railroads are connected to the complex. 

History of the Tubarão Port Complex 

Opened in 1966, the Tubarão Port Complex was one of the most modern port complexes at the time it was built. In 1962, the until then Companhia Vale do Rio Doce began its construction. At the time, it was designed to receive ships of sizes that did not even exist in the 1960s. 

As it is located in a strategic outlet, the Tubarão Port Complex is located in the richest region of the country (Southeast). When it was designed by Eliezer Batista, a former engineer and president of Vale, he may not have expected the site to become such a large operational area. Combining railroad, pelletizing and port, the site is responsible for approximately one third of Vale's iron ore exports. That is, a considerable amount. 

Today, the area is 14 square kilometers. In addition to the port, the complex has eight pellet plants (which transform iron ore into small pellets used in the manufacture of steel) and the Operational Control Center (OCC) of the Vitória-Minas railroad. That is, the Tubarão Port Complex is quite complete. 

As it was successful and widely visible, its construction attracted many foreign companies to Brazil. In this way, the complex became fundamental to the region's economy. Currently, just to give you an idea, there are 64 thousand direct and indirect jobs generated by the complex. 

Finally, in addition to standing out in the transport of iron ore, the Port of Tubarão is also an important channel for the flow of grain, coal and fertilizers. Even so, there is an interconnected railroad in the complex. 

Vitória-Minas Railroad

The Vitória-Minas Railroad (EFVM) began construction in 1904. Back then, its main objective was to connect the state of Minas Gerais to the ocean.

However, as Minas Gerais does not have a coastal coast, making this flow would be much easier through rail transport. With the works going on for a long time, the railroad only reached the capital of Minas Gerais in 1994, but it has always been very important not only in the flow of ore, but in the transport of steel, coal, cellulose, containers, agricultural products, wood, etc. 

Leaving Minas Gerais and going to the Tubarão Port Complex, Vale S.A got the railroad concession in 1997. In recent years, the company has been investing in many improvements to the complex. In 2021, for example, the site received the world's first ore carrier with rotating sails, responsible for the Brazil-China and Brazil-Asia routes. By 2025, Vale S.A is expected to invest R$2.4 billion in the port area alone.

Flights between Vitória-Rio

It is also interesting to point out that, since it started to be managed by Vale S.A, the Vitória-Minas railroad has received some improvements. That said, the company should invest around R$1 billion in a new stretch of the railroad, which will pass through 10 cities in Espírito Santo and end in Anchieta, in the south of the state.

In addition to further expanding the region's exports, the project should create around 5,000 jobs for the region's population. Not to mention that, with a larger rail network in the region, the trend is that the competitiveness of transport in the region will increase and there will be better logistical integration. All this leading to the Tubarão Port Complex.

It is worth remembering that there is a project for the railroad to arrive in the future Porto Central, in Presidente Kennedy. For those who don't know the city, Presidente Kennedy is almost on the border between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. That is, it would be an important link with the state of Fluminense. However, this section still does not have a defined basic engineering project. 

Before that, it is important to remember that the concession of the Vitória-Minas railroad with Vale S.A will only run until the end of 2026, that is, it will need to be renewed. On the stretch that goes from the Vitória-Minas Railroad to Anchieta, Vale is just waiting for the authorization of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) to start the works. These are expected to begin by 2024 and last four to five years. 

It is worth remembering that, as it is located in Espírito Santo, Vale has some attractions in the state, such as the Vale Museum, the Vale Botanical Park, the Vale Natural Reserve, the Passenger Train and the Knowledge Station in the Serra. All this to enrich the state culturally.

Conclusion: Tubarão Port Complex

In this way, we were able to perceive the importance of the Tubarão Port Complex not only for the state's economy, but also for the whole of Brazil. The Complex alone is responsible for about 13% of the state's GDP (Gross Domestic Product). 

In addition, as it is on a route widely used throughout Brazil's history, the cultural wealth of the Vitória-Minas railroad, for example, is part of the national heritage. Even so, as Brazil has been investing in railroads again, since it is the cheapest and least polluting transport, the expectation is that the section that will connect the Complex to Presidente Kennedy will come off the drawing board and make the region grow even more.