North Latin America

Strong Despite Challenges

Considering the significant impact of Covid-19, the Brazilian Real’s devaluation, inflation in Brazil and increased corn prices, regional performance exceeded expectations, supported by record origination volumes for key crops, and with record utilization of logistic assets and crushing facilities.

Records in Cotton

As Brazilian cotton production broke all records in 2020, our teams sourced and exported record volumes. We grew market share and strengthened our presence in the country, by expanding storage capacity and developing key partnerships to maximize volumes and minimize bottlenecks.

Bumper Year for Coffee

Arabica coffee production reached its highest-ever levels in Brazil, while Robusta also had a bumper year. In this context, LDC significantly increased market share in origination and was among the market leaders in exports and domestic sales, shipping record volumes.

Murilo Parada
Head of North Latin America

“Leveraging our efficient logistics network and market knowledge, we took delivery of record product volumes from farmers in a context of high crop yields. Despite operational challenges, we kept global food supply chains moving while protecting our people everywhere.”

More Regional Highlights

As Brazilian soybean production reached record levels, up 7% from 2019, we operated our assets with minimal disruption despite Covid-19, sourcing and processing record soy volumes while following all safety protocols.

We increased the volumes of soy, corn and fertilizer transported by our barge and pusher fleet, which supported origination margins and flows through northern export routes.

Extensive investment in Grains & Oilseeds assets included constructing a floating crane for northern export routes and installing a new dryer in our São Simão terminal, Goiás State.

The final phase of construction works to double capacity at joint venture Tegram grains terminal, at the Port of Itaqui (State of Maranhão), was completed.

Despite external challenges, our Kowalski brand posted improved year-on-year results and grew its client base, repositioning the company as a key partner for food, aquatic feed and animal nutrition manufacturers.

We also redesigned and refreshed the branding and product portfolios of Kowalski’s business-to-consumer (B2C) corn flour brand, Xodó, and its premium pet food brand, Canitos.

We sourced record sugar volumes as currency parities encouraged maximum production, and broke new ground by originating our first sugar crop from north-eastern Brazil.

The number of our citrus farms verified as Gold Grade by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform increased to 35 in 2020 (up from 32 in 2019).