A otimização via simulação do planejamento tático da cadeia de exportação dos grãos : uma abordagem sustentável

Abstract

The grain exported from Brazil is operated by several logistics companies and regulated by two government agencies, the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) and the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ). Although the actors involved have particular interests, a common concern about the operations’ sustainability is a challenge to tactical planning. In light of gaps in the literature on sustainable planning of multimodal logistics chains in countries with continental proportions, this thesis proposes a simulation-optimization approach to assign trains’ routes and balance their loads, minimizing CO2 emissions without compromising the planned volume. The model includes financial parameters and considers a closed-loop system integrating terminals, railways and ports. The model’s applicability is tested in a case study, capturing synergies and trade-offs from conflicting and challenging objectives in logistical planning: meeting the exported volume, agility in transporting loads and the possibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The results reveal an integrated and more sustainable plan that enables an increase in grain exports of 146.2 kt/year (approximately +0.28\%) and reduced emissions of 66.8 kt of CO2 per year (about -2.51\%). Furthermore, the model is also applicable to future scenarios. With grain production’s growth in Brazil in the long term, this thesis contributes to directing cargo to port terminals sustainably, anticipating the need for new investments to provide more environmentally sustainable planning.