Get our news on your inbox! Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 05:16 UTC A key project to connect the ports of the Brazilian Atlantic with those of the Chilean Pacific crossing Paraguayan territory is rapidly advancing The Bi-oceanic Route bridge between Carmelo Peralta in Paraguay and Porto Murtinho in Brazil a key project linking Brazilian ports with Chile has managed an overall progress of 32% confirmed the information during his visit to the construction site the day prior to the change of government. Progress is well underway on both sides of the Paraguay River and the near completion of the primary piles and pylons on the Paraguayan side is clearly visible there are significant advancements on the Brazilian side Minister Segovia emphasized that precast beams are currently in production at the Pretec SA factory in Capiatá These beams will soon be transported to the construction site contributing to the bridge’s swift development The PYBRA Consortium holds the responsibility for executing this ambitious regional integration project which stands as a pivotal element of the Bi-oceanic Route This route will facilitate the connection between ports situated in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans fostering the growth and progress of multiple countries in South America Those were the first 36 km out of the 2,436 km coast to coast distance I'll believe this when they link up across the cordilleras Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page Diálogo Américas in Portuguese) is strengthening surveillance and monitoring capabilities to control trafficking along the Brazilian border with Paraguay and Bolivia with the installation of new radar stations in the cities of Corumbá the Corumbá Radar Station was the first to become operational The new equipment expands capabilities to identify the presence of unauthorized aircraft flying at low altitudes with illegal cargo in Brazilian territory According to a press release from FAB’s Public Affairs Office the equipment provides air surveillance capabilities in a 450-kilometer radius “The functioning radars enable identification of all types of aircraft that circulate in the covered area the operational decisions related to control or air defense can be made very effectively,” the statement indicated According to FAB General Heraldo Luiz Rodrigues general director of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA the new station considerably strengthens airspace control in the region “With the installation of radars in Corumbá DECEA will be able to identify any aircraft flying over Brazilian territory in this region coming from Bolivia or Paraguay and they will be intercepted and suffer legal consequences per airspace regulations,” he said more than 3.5 tons of cocaine have been seized on clandestine flights from Bolivia to Brazil through operations conducted by fighter jets the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft conduct the majority of clandestine flight interceptions along the border The installation of the Porto Murtinho radar station is close to completion according to news site Porto Murtinho Notícias The new radar station will monitor aircraft flying at low altitudes over the border region and will strengthen the ability to identify unauthorized flights which is essential in combat operations against drug trafficking The FAB estimates that the Porto Murtinho and Ponta Porã stations will be operational in the first half of 2021 For more on security and defense issues around the globe in Portuguese) launched the new Ponta Porã Radar Station The station is the third in a series of new radars that the FAB installed along the border in the country’s central-west region The first station began operating in August 2020 The objective is for the new equipment to enhance the identification of low flying aircraft in Brazil’s border region with Bolivia and Paraguay increasing detection of unauthorized traffic or unlawful use of aircraft According to the newspaper Correio do Estado the two neighboring countries are the main departure points for clandestine flights to transport drugs nearly 4 tons of cocaine were intercepted on clandestine flights from Bolivia to Brazil The effect of installing radars at the border to combat drug trafficking may represent an increase in the number of seizures and also curb the frequency of flights carrying drugs into the country,” the article said highlighted the potential for the FAB’s operational capacity with the new Ponta Porã Radar Station “The acquisition of capabilities resulting from the operation of these three radars is consistent with the alignment of National Defense Strategy objectives which considers airspace surveillance an important responsibility for the consolidation of other Brazilian Air Force tasks,” said Gen “The new radars will strengthen aerial surveillance and curb the ongoing practice of cross-border crimes perpetrated by low flying aircraft.” highlighted the importance of integrated operations benefiting the protection of state borders: “In 2020 seized more than 760 tons of drugs that would have been distributed in Brazil The new Ponta Porã Radar Station is equipped with a long-range primary radar and a secondary radar It has aircraft detection capability within its coverage area with a range of up to 450 kilometers corresponding to about 636,000 square kilometers The equipment is prepared to operate 24 hours a day and the information generated can be viewed by air traffic controllers of the Second Integrated Center for Air Defense and Air Traffic Control (CINDACTA II an institution of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA and responsible for airspace control in the region According to information published in DECEA’s magazine the integration of radar information allows CINDACTA II controllers to identify low-altitude flights in the border region resulting in operational benefits for both civilian aircraft control and air defense The Ponta Porã Radar Station was the third implemented by the FAB The radar stations in Corumbá and Porto Murtinho were already in operation (Photo: Brazilian Air Force Staff Sergeant Bianca Viol) Brazil has enough potential to supply up to half of the soybeans that Argentina will import to keep its industrial park running in the face of the historic drought that ravaged the 2022/23 crop in the country which is usually the largest exporter of soy oil and soy meal in the world which is expected to reap a mere 25 million tons this season may have to import up to 10 million tons of soy Meanwhile Brazil is harvesting a record crop and could increase sales to Argentina by at least ten times the Rosario-based head of Latam Grains at HEDGEpoint Global Markets Brazil will export at least 3 million tons to Argentina but if international soy meal prices pay off adding that Argentine crushers’ margins are currently negative The expert also noted that sales by Argentine farmers are at their lowest levels in 20 years in addition to the fact that the country is experiencing one of the worst droughts in 100 years which reduced the oilseed crop by 45% from initial estimates “They are holding on to soybeans until the harvest without pricing,” she said noting that this is one of the factors driving imports to record levels this season the price of grains has been a problem at the time of sale both due to the lack of references and negative crushing margins also considering that the harvest is just beginning and imports from Brazil are still relatively small Brazil may export up to 97 million tons on the back of a bumper crop Some 5 million tons may be shipped to Argentina Cogo pointed out that Paraguay is also a key regional supplier but has a limited output as its soy crop is estimated at around 8.8 million tons The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates the Paraguayan 2022/23 harvest at 10 million tons Bolivia and Uruguay will supply soy to Argentina Although Uruguay has also suffered a serious drought with poor yields Cogo commented that Brazil shipped almost 230,000 tons of oilseeds to Argentina in the first two months of 2023 compared to only 167 kilograms in the same period last year which indicates that volumes will increase throughout the year purchases from Argentina should jump to 10 million tons as the crop losses are very high In light of the impending national elections in Argentina growing political and macroeconomic uncertainty and meager carry-over stocks after the lowest harvest in two decades Arcidiacono noted that the increased interest in imports should continue in the year’s final quarter There are reports of shipments of Brazilian soybeans leaving for Argentina from Porto Murtinho “I understand that the price in Brazil dropped so much with the record harvest that it became feasible to export (to Argentina) from Northern ports,” the source said sales by Brazilian farmers have been good in recent weeks with producers without space to store grains “The basis of soybeans in Brazil follows with a discount compared to the quotation of the Chicago Stock Exchange,” he pointed out Agrinvest soybean analyst Eduardo Vanin said if Brazilian soy premiums continued to fall Brazilian suppliers will remain competitive against their Paraguayan counterparts to sell to Argentina