Case Study 1: Bolivia Urea Project

Bolivia Urea Case Study – Smarter Bulk Logistics

Moving Fertiliser Across a Continent

In Bolivia’s agricultural heartland, a leading fertiliser supplier faced a huge challenge: how to move thousands of tonnes of urea from Bulo Bulo, deep in the jungle, to farming communities across South America. The goal was more than just transport. It was about keeping supply chains running so growers could count on a steady flow of essential fertiliser.

The Challenge: Transporting Bulk Urea Through Remote Regions

The journey stretched across borders and climates. Urea needed to travel 900 km by rail to Quijarro, a Gravetal port on the Tamengo Channel near the Brazil and Bolivia border. From there, shipments continued down the Paraguay River, covering a further 2,770 km to Rosario, Argentina.

But the path was far from simple. The client needed to:

• Overcome rugged, remote terrain with limited infrastructure.
• Handle high-volume shipments without costly delays.
• Protect product quality during long-distance transit.
• Streamline loading and unloading at a busy port.

The Solution: Containerised Logistics Built for Scale

We delivered a solution built around our patented high-cube containers, engineered specifically for bulk materials like urea.

At Bulo Bulo, containers were loaded directly onto rail wagons. Each convoy ran on 40-foot railcars, 25 wagons per train, moving 50 containers per rake. After a 900 km rail journey, the cargo arrived at Quijarro, where reach stackers and tipplers unloaded containers quickly and safely. Urea was then de-cantered into chutes, packed into bulk bags, and transferred onto barges for the river route.

To support the operation, we deployed:

• A fleet of 500 containers built for heavy-duty fertiliser transport.
• Two dedicated tipplers at the port to maintain a constant flow.

These purpose-built designs form part of our specialist container logistics solutions and include innovations like our 20ft open top containers to handle demanding bulk loads with ease.

The Impact: A Reliable Supply Chain for Growers

This project transformed a complex supply route into a seamless operation:

• Faster movement of goods from the production site to the port.
• Reduced handling losses thanks to containerised systems.
• Consistent fertiliser supply for growers along the Paraguay River system, helping farms plan ahead and improve yields.

It shows that with the right equipment and expertise, even the most challenging supply routes can be turned into efficient, reliable networks.

Let’s Optimise Your Bulk Logistics

Whether you are moving fertiliser, grain or other bulk materials, we can help you design a smarter and more resilient transport system. Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.