The number of shipments of raw and processed agricultural commodities is steadily increasing and Bunge North America is expanding its trade capabilities to meet that growth. The food and feed ingredient company has added a Georgia port to its shipping operations.
Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) , announced that it has signed a cargo-handling agreement with the Georgia Ports Authority to coordinate shipments of all agriculture products through the Port of Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal.
The facility is among the largest deepwater agri-bulk operations in the U.S. South Atlantic and features a dedicated agri-bulk berth. Capable of handling grains, oilseeds and their by-products, the facility is served by the CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern railroads and has truck access via Interstate 95. With the Brunswick Harbor Deepening Project having been completed in June 2007, Brunswick now maintains a harbor depth of 36 feet at mean low water enabling the handling of Panamax-class vessels.
“With Bunge North America’s growing business in Central and Latin America, we need additional export capacity to serve our customers in the area and the Port of Brunswick is an ideal location with a state-of-the-art facility,” said Bailey Ragan, vice president and general manager, Bunge Grain. “This agreement also enables Bunge to expand our origination network along the East Coast and to work with the strong local farm community.”
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Bunge to the Port of Brunswick,” stated Doug J. Marchand, executive director, Georgia Ports Authority. “This agreement is a testimony to our long-term initiatives to export a greater volume of U.S. agri-products through Colonel’s Island. Bunge’s decision to utilize our operations will have a direct impact on the success we’ve come to enjoy at the Port of Brunswick.”
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Bunge will coordinate the shipments of all agriculture products through the Port of Brunswick, which will continue to be owned and operated by the Georgia Ports Authority. Financial terms of the agreement were not released.