Due to the high water conditions and lock and dam repairs, grain barge shipments experienced a notable drop in tonnages for the week ending July 14, says the Grain Transportation Report.
Grain barge shipments from the Mississippi River system were 741,950 tons, a 36% drop compared to the previous week.
The total grain shipments though Mississippi River Locks 27 (near Granite City, IL) and Ohio River Locks 52 (near Brookport, IL), were 612,000 and 94,950 tons, a 33% and 53% drop, respectively, from the previous week.
The barge industry expects further delays in operations with the on-going repair work at Ohio River Locks 52 and the scheduled closure of the main chamber at Melvin Price Locks and Dam (Upper Mississippi River, near E. Alton, IL) for the last half of July.
