CLIA Pouso Alegre Expands to Boost Rio-Minas Trade Corridor

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

CLIA Pouso Alegre, a Customs-bonded logistics hub operated by the ICTSI Group, has moved into a larger, modern facility in Minas Gerais. The relocation opens new possibilities for a faster and more predictable trade flow between the Port of Rio de Janeiro and one of Brazil’s most industrially diverse states.

Positioned along the busy Rio-Minas corridor, the new site strengthens multimodal connections by linking directly with Rio Brasil Terminal at the Port of Rio de Janeiro. For shippers, that means a tighter supply chain between factories, warehouses, and global markets.

Think of Minas Gerais as a crossroads of Brazilian industry. From agribusiness and meat exports to automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, the state’s producers rely heavily on efficient access to ports and airports. CLIA Pouso Alegre’s new location is designed with this in mind.

It sits within reach of Brazil’s two busiest ports—Rio de Janeiro and Santos—as well as Guarulhos and Viracopos airports, offering industries multiple exit routes for their goods.

“With this move, we have developed a direct and more seamless connection between local industries and the global market,” said Rafael Cardoso, chief commercial officer of CLIA Pouso Alegre and Rio Brasil Terminal. “We have also made it easier for shipping lines to reach their customers more efficiently via road and rail link from the Port of Rio de Janeiro.”

The numbers tell the story of scale. The new facility spans 49,800 square meters—nearly a small town in logistics terms. A larger warehouse of 12,600 square meters provides room for expanded storage and cargo handling.

Capacity has also been boosted with a bonded yard capable of accommodating 620 TEUs, a 1,800-TEU depot for container storage, and a dedicated 360-square-meter export warehouse—features not available at the old site. These additions allow shipping lines and customers more options for handling cargo without detours or delays.

The relocation also sharpens Rio de Janeiro’s profile as a viable alternative gateway to São Paulo’s dominant port of Santos. By offering faster transit times and the ability to return empty containers directly to CLIA’s depot, the facility gives shipping lines and cargo owners an incentive to shift volumes that might otherwise bypass Rio.

For carriers calling at Rio Brasil Terminal, the equation is simple: more predictable operations and the chance to capture new business traditionally routed through other ports like Santos and Catarina.

CLIA Pouso Alegre began operations at its new site on September 1, 2025, located at Rodovia BR 381, Km 861 in Limeira, Pouso Alegre. The move marks not just an upgrade in space but a bet on the future of Minas Gerais as a logistics powerhouse within Brazil’s wider trade network.