COFCO International launches new barge fleet in Romania to boost grain logistics
The company, which moves over 2 million tonnes of grain annually via the Danube, said the investment strengthens operational flexibility and efficiency
ROMANIA – COFCO International has expanded its logistics capabilities along the Danube River with the launch of a new barge fleet in Romania, aiming to streamline grain transport between inland silos and its deep-sea terminal in Constanta on the Black Sea.
The fleet comprises four push boats and 29 barges, each capable of carrying over 1,000 tonnes of grains such as corn, wheat, and barley.
The company, which moves over 2 million tonnes of grain annually via the Danube, said the investment strengthens operational flexibility and efficiency while easing pressure on road and rail infrastructure.
“The barges connect the COFCO river silos to Constanta terminal, and they offer COFCO a more flexible transport of the goods,” said Irina Micu, barge fleet planner at COFCO International Romania.
COFCO emphasized the environmental advantages of river transport, citing significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to trucks and rail. One barge can replace the equivalent load of 70 trucks or 40 rail wagons, reducing road congestion and supporting the company’s sustainability commitments.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating as the international arm of China-based COFCO Group, COFCO International has been scaling its inland logistics amid growing demand and regional infrastructure constraints.
The group operates in 36 countries with over 12,000 employees, managing a global agricultural supply chain that links farm origins to end users
The barge deployment responds to a threefold increase in Danube transport volumes in recent years, reinforcing waterway transport as a preferred mode in Central and Eastern Europe.
The expansion comes as COFCO International reported a decline in its 2024 financial performance, with annual revenues falling to $38.5 billion from $50.1 billion the previous year. Sales volumes to third parties also decreased, dropping to 108.4 million metric tonnes from 121.7 million.
Although the company did not offer a detailed explanation for the decline, it cited global commodity market conditions in its annual sustainability report, noting that prices for staple crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans fell to their lowest levels since 2020.
Despite the revenue challenges, COFCO International marked major progress in its sustainability initiatives. Its 2024 report confirmed that over 99% of soybeans sourced from Brazil were verified as deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF). This milestone aligns with the company’s goal of achieving fully DCF supply chains for soybeans and corn across South America by the end of 2025.
“With land use change the largest contributor to agricultural emissions, we worked with suppliers to improve traceability and obtain better land use change data, largely in Brazil,” said CEO David Dong. “This has enabled us to source commodities more strategically from sites with lower emissions.”
The company also reported a 9% reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity for soy and a 14% reduction for corn compared to its 2021 baseline. These results support its broader strategy to decarbonize the agricultural value chain while maintaining competitiveness in global markets.
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