CSN Accelerates Vertical Integration with Majority Stake in Tora Transportes Group

By Eva Richardson | April 3, 2025 | The Logistic News

In a bold move to reinforce its control over supply chain operations, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) has announced the acquisition of a 70% controlling stake in Tora Transportes Group, one of Brazil’s leading logistics and transportation providers. The R$742.5 million ($150 million USD) transaction marks a decisive step in CSN’s strategy to consolidate its logistics infrastructure and reduce dependence on third-party carriers.

The deal was finalized on April 1, 2025, and includes Tora’s flagship freight division as well as Estrela, a subsidiary specialized in multimodal transport. For CSN—a historically steel-centric industrial group—this move signals a broader transformation toward vertically integrated, logistics-enabled manufacturing.

Logistics as Strategic Leverage

While CSN is best known for its steel production and mining operations, the company has increasingly positioned logistics as a core strategic asset. By acquiring Tora, CSN secures immediate access to an expansive national transport network, a skilled workforce, and a technology-backed fleet serving key industrial corridors throughout Brazil.

“The acquisition of Tora is not just about moving cargo more efficiently,” said a CSN spokesperson. “It’s about having end-to-end visibility and control over every ton of iron ore, steel coil, and finished product we move.”

Tora: A Logistics Powerhouse

Founded in 1972, Tora Transportes is headquartered in Contagem, Minas Gerais, and operates a diversified logistics portfolio that includes road freight, warehousing, multimodal hubs, and contract logistics. Its client base spans automotive, mining, retail, and agribusiness.

With over 1,000 vehicles, multiple logistics centers, and a track record of tech innovation in fleet tracking and optimization, Tora is considered a benchmark operator in Brazilian domestic logistics.

CSN plans to retain Tora’s leadership team to ensure continuity and cultural alignment, while also injecting capital for network expansion and digitalization.

Strategic Implications for CSN’s Supply Chain

The acquisition is expected to generate operational synergies across CSN’s integrated operations, especially in raw material transport, finished product distribution, and export corridor optimization. By internalizing part of its logistics flow, CSN aims to:

• Reduce freight costs and exposure to market rate volatility

• Shorten delivery lead times to industrial clients and export ports

• Enhance supply chain traceability and environmental performance

• Increase resilience in the face of geopolitical or infrastructure disruptions

The company also hinted at plans to leverage Tora’s third-party business to serve new external customers, potentially generating additional logistics revenue streams beyond CSN’s core verticals.

Analysts See a Shift Toward Logistics-Driven Industry

Analysts say the deal reflects a growing trend among industrial giants to internalize logistics as a lever of competitiveness—particularly in emerging markets where infrastructure remains uneven.

“This is not just vertical integration—it’s value chain transformation,” said Luiz Correia, senior analyst at Itaú BBA. “CSN is betting that owning logistics will give it pricing power, agility, and service reliability. That’s a smart hedge against market shocks.”

Conclusion

With the acquisition of Tora Transportes, CSN is no longer just a steelmaker—it’s a logistics operator in its own right. As supply chain efficiency becomes a strategic differentiator in global industry, companies that take control of their transport infrastructure will be better equipped to withstand disruptions and outperform the competition.

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