Railways set freight movement record with 555.48 million tons in 2025

Freight transported by rail last year increased by 2.57% compared with 2024 (Matheus Tagé/AT Archive)

Rail freight movement reached 555.48 million useful tons (UT) in the country in 2025, representing an increase of 2.57% compared with 2024, considering cargo transported by rail for domestic supply and foreign trade

“For the third consecutive time, we have broken the record for freight movement by rail in Brazil, at a moment when we are also registering a historic volume of private investments in the sector. These results show that planning, regulatory predictability, and dialogue with the market are producing concrete effects”, highlighted the National Secretary for Rail Transport, Leonardo Ribeiro.

According to him, the efforts of the ministry have focused on improving land transportation chains so that goods shipped through Brazil have adequate infrastructure and can be transported through routes with lower costs and greater efficiency.

“For example, on long-distance routes, grains from Mato Grosso, the country’s main producer, can be sent to the Southeast and to the region’s ports by rail, which reduces truck traffic on highways and the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG)”, stated the Ministry of Transport in a note.

A survey by Infra S.A. on rail freight movement in 2025 shows that the agricultural sector recorded the best performance, with growth of 4.62%, followed by other goods, which increased 3.43%. Iron ore maintained its leading role, reaching 401.35 million UT, with a rise of 2.72%.

“The growth of rail transportation reinforces the strategic role of this mode amid the expansion of economic activity, which continues to increase, and goes beyond a mere trend”, said Ribeiro.