APLICAÇÃO DE MODELAGEM MATEMÁTICA PARA OTIMIZAÇÃO DA LOGÍSTICA DE EXPORTAÇÃO DO MILHO DO ESTADO DO MATO GROSSO/THE APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING FOR THE LOGISTIC OPTIMIZATION OF CORN EXPORTS IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL

Current analysis estimates the flow of the main routes of Brazilian corn produced in and exported from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. A mathematical model based on origin-end matrixes produced estimates and evaluated two cases: the first case investigated highway routes, whilst the second added selected intermodal ones. Results show that the Port of Santos, followed by that of Paranaguá, is the final destination of corn from Mato Grosso for export. The second scenario, featuring the inclusion of intermodal options, the aim function had a 6.3% decrease. The highway-waterway route for the Port of Santarém/Manaus has highly competitive advantages, in terms of logistic costs, for corn produced in the northern region of the state of Mato Grosso. Intermodality is perhaps one of the best ways for higher efficiency in the corn chain. Besides decreasing freight costs, it has competitive advantages in the international market.