In a second step, a variation by ten percent of the fuel consumption of a truck was assumed. The
target of Brazil to reduce the average age of the truck fleet might have a positive impact on fuel
efficiency and thus on exhaust emissions (see appendix 40). As GHG emissions are tight to the
fuel combustions, the variation of a truck's fuel consumption by ten percent resulted in a proportional
reduction or increase in GHG emissions if soybeans are shipped only via road. The intermodal
option displayed a more moderate change in emissions. In this case, a ten percent reduction
in the trucks' fuel consumption reduced the GHG emissions by six percent for the SorrisoSantos
route and by four percent for the Rondonópolis-Santos route, respectively. The results
shown in figure 4.19 give evidence that the intermodal option continues to be more efficient for
transports from Sorriso to Santos. However, with an improved fuel efficiency road transport becomes
more efficient when transports start in Rondonópolis. The breakeven point between road
and intermodal transportation was calculated at a truck's fuel consumption of 0.46 l/km (-8 %).
For the Sorriso-Santos route a decrease of fuel combustion per km to 0.39 l/km (-22 %) would
equal the emission volume of road and intermodal transportation. In the other case of fuelefficiency
losses, e.g., due to worsened road conditions or a bad driving manner of the trucker,
emissions increased by ten percent, proportionally to the assumed change in fuel consumption.