Bottleneck at key Brazil grains transshipment facility clears

Rewrites with situation normalized in the first paragraph based on fresh statement from ANATC; response from Rumo's statement

By Ana Mano and Roberto Samora

SAO PAULO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Operations at a large grain transshipment hub linking the heart of Brazil's farm country to the port of Santos have returned to normal after being disrupted by thousands of trucks unable to quickly unload grains, a truckers' transportation lobby told Reuters on Wednesday.

Lines with as many as 3,500 trucks had formed at the Rondonopolis facility in Mato Grosso, which is operated by Rumo RAIL3.SA, according to a statement on Tuesday from ANATC, which represents 2.2 million truckers.

"The situation is alarming. Unloading time can take up to 24 or even 48 hours," Carley Welter, institutional director at ANATC, said in the Tuesday statement.

Rumo said on Wednesday truck lines formed at Rondonopolis in late January but noted that the situation has been resolved, with no bottlenecks.

"The unloading system works through a scheduling service and truck drivers' punctuality is key to avoid queues and minimize waiting time," Rumo said.

Logistics disruptions come as Brazil's soybean export program is off to a slow start. According to shipping data, Brazil's soy exports in January fell to 1.3 million metric tons from 2.4 million tons in the same month last year.

Grains exporters' lobby Anec said on Wednesday that rains have disrupted soy harvesting, the flow of trucks and ship loading times, which could reduce Brazil's soy export volumes in February.

Brazil, the world's biggest soybean producer and exporter, will harvest a record soy crop of about 170 million metric tons in 2025.

It is expected to ship some 7 million tons more than last year, according to oilseed lobby Abiove. Brazil competes with the United States and Argentina in global markets, sending most of its soy to China.

A fire broke out at Rumo's Rondonopolis facility last week. The firm reiterated that operations were continued after it was controlled, without providing details on any impact on operations.

More than eight trains leave daily from Rumo's facility to Santos, each loaded with more than 11,500 tons of grain, it said.

Mato Grosso, Brazil's biggest soy state, should reap around 47 million tons this year.