SEA Delegation to Brazil

That time we had the signing of a protocol of intentions between Abiove and THE SOLVENT EXTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (SEA), which established a robust collaboration for the vegetable oil industries of both countries. Continuing the approach with the country that is the main destination for our soybean oil, it was time for the Indians visit us. For a whole week, we promoted and accompanied executives from SEA and purchasing companies from India in a series of meetings and technical visits, a valuable exchange of information on technology, market demands and needs, supply, use and trade of soybeans, cotton, bran and oil, as well as other oilseeds and their derivatives.

On the morning of the first day, the Indian delegation visited our office in São Paulo and participated in a very broad exhibition on the crushing market, vegetable oils, biodiesel and the main sector programs, with the participation of ANEC – Associação Nacional dos Exportadores de Cereais representatives too.
In the afternoon, it was time for visits to the Cargill and Bunge offices. Companies presented their views on the market, investments, international relations, exports and much more.

On the second day, the executives visited the Archer Daniels Midland Company office where they attended a company presentation focusing on business and activities in the soybean and vegetable oils sector.

Terminal de Granéis do Guarujá – TGG

After that it was time to visit the facilities of TGG – Terminal de Granéis do Guarujá, a port terminal for receiving, storing and boarding solid bulk. The complex located on the left bank of the Port of Santos occupies an area of ​​340 thousand meters². It is managed by the companies Amaggi, Bunge and Rumo, and it has the capacity to handle 9 million tons/year.

The delegation members monitored how the procedures for cleaning and standardizing grains for export work, the processes for receiving and shipping these products, in addition to the warehouses and some ships were in transit at the TGG area.

On the third day Indian delegation went to the region of Rondonópolis (Mato Grosso State) to see in practice production processes of the grain and vegetable oil chain.

The executives visited the industrial units of COFCO International and Bunge where they followed the stages of grain collection, cleaning, standardization, weighing, crushing, oil extraction, biodiesel production, up to the rail shipment of the product and quality and safety controls. At the Bunge plant the refined oil operation was presented such as the bottling line and other procedures.

After seeing the size and efficiency of these industrial complexes, the delegation went to the Brazilian Seed Fair (FEBRASEM). They knew manufacturers and production of high-quality seeds that generate soybean and corn plantations. During the fair Indian executives met representatives from Frente Parlamentar da Agropecuária (FPA), Frente Parlamentar Mista do Biodiesel and APROSMAT – Associação dos Produtores de Sementes de Mato Grosso.

At Girassol do Prata rural property it was possible to get to know up close and in details the crops of corn, soybeans, cotton and pine (raw material to renewable energy), as well as productivity data and parameters, seed production systems and soybean processing unit that is used for this purpose, a product with high added value. Still in the field, they knew a little bit more about usable agricultural machines, crop-spraying aircrafts and the necessary care for quality control and safety at work.

Finally delegation went to Brasília for an agenda focused on political and regulatory issues, phytosanitary inspection and international promotion and cooperation initiatives. There were meetings with the ministries of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Embrapa and the Indian ambassador in Brazil.