Bunge Resumes Destrehan Operations

NEW YORK - Sep 7/05 - SNS -- Bunge North America reopened its export elevator in Destrehan, La. near New Orleans.

The facility was shut down Saturday, August 27, 2005 because of mandatory evacuations ahead of Hurricane Katrina.

Bunge's export elevator and its soybean processing facility in Destrehan sustained minor damage and were without electricity until Friday evening, September 2. Once power was restored, repairs were made to the elevator. Loading of vessels resumed on Sunday, as did the unloading of barges.

At the soybean processing facility, Bunge is testing and repairing equipment in the plant with operations expected to resume shortly.

In addition to the two facilities in Destrehan, Bunge operates a network of elevators along the Mississippi River and its tributaries and more than 450 barges. Most of its barges have been accounted for and while several elevators temporarily lost power following the storm, operations have resumed. Although barges can be unloaded at Destrehan, Bunge expects it to be several weeks before barge traffic on the Mississippi and its tributaries is back to normal.