Logistics challenges in Tocantins agribusiness: evaluation of transportation and storage infrastructure, with a focus on bottlenecks that impact the sector's competitiveness

Abstract

Agribusiness in Tocantins, a growing sector in Brazil, faces logistical barriers that compromise its full development. Deficiencies in transportation infrastructure, with worn-out highways and limitations in the integration between modes, increase costs and the time required to transport products. The North-South Railway, which crosses the state, could be a solution to reduce dependence on road transportation, but it faces regional integration problems and underutilization. In addition to transportation, the lack of sufficient and quality warehouses also represents a bottleneck. Agricultural production has grown significantly, but the increase in storage capacity has not kept pace. This results in inefficient logistics, forcing many producers to resort to immediate transportation of crops to other states or regions with better infrastructure, which makes the process more expensive and increases losses in the production chain. These logistical challenges limit the competitiveness of Tocantins producers, who face disadvantages compared to neighboring states, such as Mato Grosso and Goiás, with better infrastructure. Overcoming these obstacles requires investments in expanding and modernizing highways, railways and storage centers, as well as government incentives and public-private partnerships. This set of actions will allow Tocantins to consolidate itself as an important national agribusiness hub, enabling more efficient logistics, reducing costs, and paving the way for economic growth and strengthening the state in the national and international markets.