Port-Centric Strategies for Optimizing Agro-Commodity Supply Chains: Insights from Soybean Flow Redesign
摘要
The increased consumption of soybeans, driven by their use in animal feed, allied with the shift in the production of this grain to the southern region of the globe, particularly to countries like Brazil, highlights the need to restructure the soybean supply chain in Europe. This study evaluates the potential of a new grain terminal in the Port of Sines, using a mixed-integer linear model to assess its impact on the European soybean supply chain. The model was validated and tested. The results show that the Port of Sines represents a viable alternative to existing European ports to distribute soybeans to southern European countries, particularly by transshipment to Mediterranean ports. Without transshipment, Sines is still a viable option for supplying the countries of the Iberian Peninsula. Future research should incorporate the transformation of soybeans into by-products in the model and conduct an economic evaluation of establishing a new grain terminal in Sines.