EN 
PT_BR 
The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) approved support in the amount of R$2 billion for Rumo SA to complete the first stage of the Mato Grosso State Railway (FMT), between Rondonópolis (MT) and the BR-070 terminal, in Dom Aquino (MT), with an extension of 162 kilometers.
BNDES supports the project through the subscription of debentures, in the total volume of the issuance (R$ 2 billion), which was coordinated by the Bank itself. The works related to the first phase are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026.
The entire FMT project foresees the construction of approximately 743 km, divided into five phases, to connect the municipalities of Rondonópolis and Lucas do Rio Verde, including a branch line destined for Cuiabá. The execution of the works is expected to generate 114,000 jobs.
The FMT (Mato Grosso Railway) is one of the most important initiatives in expanding transportation infrastructure and aims to develop the Mato Grosso region and its rail network to capture a significant share of grain transportation, mainly soybeans and corn, from one of the country's largest producing regions. Furthermore, the railway will increase the capacity for transporting the state's agro-industrial production and will integrate road and rail transport modes.
The new terminal near BR-070 will play a key role in the logistics process, serving as a hub for cargo transported by road and its transfer to rail. With the capacity to handle up to 10 million tons of grain per year, mainly soybeans and corn, the new terminal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.
“This railway represents a significant advance for the flow of agricultural production from Mato Grosso, with reduced logistics costs, increased competitiveness of Brazilian products in the international market, and relief from the overload on highways, priorities of President Lula's government. Furthermore, the railway will have positive impacts on environmental sustainability, since rail transport has lower carbon emission rates compared to road transport,” states the president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante.
“Investment in railway expansion with a long-term perspective is a strong lever for competitiveness and sustainability for agribusiness and the national economy. Our railways play an essential role in connecting diverse production chains to international markets efficiently, safely, and with low carbon emissions. In this way, we contribute to the country leveraging its competitive advantages and playing a leading role in the global arena,” adds Natália Marcassa, Vice President of Rumo.
Rumo is a frequent issuer in the Brazilian credit market. In 2025 alone, three issuances were carried out, totaling R$4.8 billion raised in incentivized debentures to finance its investments in the Mato Grosso Railway and the Paulista Rail Network, among others. BNDES support is part of this amount and complements the funding structure necessary for the investments.
Expansion – The current rail network, spanning approximately 30,000 kilometers, is undergoing expansion and modernization, with projects totaling over 12,000 km of new tracks authorized or underway, crossing various regions of the country. The Brazilian government has prioritized the sector, allocating R$ 94.2 billion until 2026 for projects such as the West-East Integration Railway (FIOL), the Central-West Integration Railway (FICO), and the Transnordestina Railway.
In 2024, the railway sector achieved significant milestones. According to the National Association of Railway Transporters (ANTF), general cargo transport reached a record 150 million useful tons (TU), surpassing the highest volume of the last 19 years, recorded in 2023. In total, including iron ore, railways moved 540 million TU, a growth of 1.83% compared to 2023, which was already the highest result in the previous six years. Iron ore was the main product transported, totaling 390 million TU. Among general cargo, the growth in cellulose (up 26.4%), sugar (up 15.8%) and containers (up 8.73%) stood out.
