LDC modernises Santa Elena Port, invests in infrastructure to bolster grain origination in Argentina

ARGENTINA – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has unveiled a series of strategic investments aimed at enhancing its grain and oilseed origination capacity in Argentina, with the inauguration of a newly modernised storage and port terminal in Santa Elena, Entre Ríos.

The official reopening event, attended by national and provincial authorities, local producers, and key industry stakeholders, marked a pivotal moment for Argentina’s agri-logistics sector.

Since acquiring the Santa Elena facility in March 2025, LDC has invested significantly to modernise the site, bringing it up to global operational and safety standards. The improvements include dredging of the adjacent river, allowing efficient barge loading, and fully reactivating the port and storage infrastructure.

The upgraded terminal now facilitates seamless connectivity between grain and oilseed production zones in Entre Ríos and southern Corrientes and LDC’s milling operations in Santa Fe. This logistical integration is expected to lower transportation costs and offer local producers more consistent year-round access to markets.

According to Juan José Blanchard, Group COO and Head of Latin America at LDC, the Santa Elena site now features a fully operational sales office that offers customised services and products for regional producers.

“With the restored port, modernised facilities, and a highly trained local team, LDC seeks to be the strategic and preferred partner for producers in the region, helping to boost agricultural productivity and expand cultivated areas over livestock,” he said.

In line with its global strategy to strengthen its core origination capabilities, LDC has also completed several additional infrastructure projects in Argentina.

One such investment includes the expansion of its Campo Largo storage facility in El Chaco, where storage capacity has been increased from 3,000 to 13,000 tons through the installation of two new silos and upgrades to fire prevention systems.

This ten-month project, involving around 100 contractors, has also established a crucial rail link via the Belgrano Cargas network, enabling cost-effective and efficient transportation of grains from northern Argentina to export terminals.

Further south in Quimilí, Santiago del Estero, LDC’s facility, previously used solely for cotton ginning, has now been officially authorised to operate as a grain and oilseed storage centre. The facility will accommodate up to 50,000 tons in silo bags, with wheat deliveries set to begin in October, followed by sunflower in December.

This development offers local producers a valuable delivery point and enhances connections to LDC’s broader industrial network, easing logistical burdens and improving market access.

Looking ahead, LDC is preparing to break ground on a new storage facility in General Paz, Córdoba. Scheduled to begin construction in August 2025, the facility will have a storage capacity of 3,000 tons and will be connected to the Belgrano Cargas railway line.

According to the company, the project will engage approximately 120 contractors during construction and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2026, employing around a dozen permanent staff once complete.

“These investments reflect LDC’s long-term vision for the Argentine agribusiness sector. By strengthening our origination capabilities in the interior and offering producers reliable and efficient logistics and commercial solutions, we are building a more integrated, productive, and ultimately sustainable value chain,” said Blanchard.

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