ALL estimates increase of 12% in transported volume in the year
Valor Econômico 03/12/2009
Despite the slowdown of the economy of the country, which withdrew 3.6% in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter, and the projection of negative performance for 2009, ALL (America Latina Logística) keeps its forecast of growth, in volume, between 10% and 12% this year. The bet of the railway concessionaire is in the increase of loads from the agribusiness, mainly the soy complex, and in the gain of new cargos in the industrial/road segment. Last year, the consolidated volume of cargo (Brazil and Argentina) grew 10.8%, to 38.2 billion of TKU (technical information of the sector, but ALL does not provide the information in useful tons). The net income grew 16.1% and the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda), 23.7%. In Brazil, the transported volume had better performance: increase of 11.7%. It was influenced by increases both in the market of agricultural commodities, and in industrial products. The index indicated elasticity two times superior to the GDP. Even though fairly optimistic for the current situation, the projection of ALL has already been reviewed. Before that, it was from 12% to 14%. Because of that, the volume of investments decreased from R$ 700 million to R$ 600 million (US$ 304/261 million) this year, in order to meet the need of the cargo volume and already with an eye on next year. The railway also has cargo increases in the industrial segment, where its participation in the market is low. "This year we will start this transportation of 1 million tons a year of pulp from VCP, from Três Lagoas (MS) straight to Santos". The mix today is 65% agribusiness and 35% industrial. The goal is to get to 50% each.