The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Grain Transportation Report showed U.S. Class I railroads originated 24,757 grain carloads during the week ending December 27, down 14% from the previous week but still 7% higher than last year and 16% above the three-year average. January shuttle secondary railcar bids averaged $526 above tariff, a $336 drop from the prior week but $520 higher than the same week last year. Non-shuttle bids were $19 above tariff, down $19 from last week and $31 lower than last year.
Barge grain shipments surged, totaling 757,876 tons for the week ending January 3, an 87% increase from the previous week and 8% above last year. The number of barges moving downriver rose to 479, 209 more than the prior week. Grain barge unloads in the New Orleans region jumped 64% to 840.
Ocean grain vessel loadings in the Gulf declined 12% year-over-year for the week ending January 1, with 23 vessels loaded and 49 expected in the following 10 days, down 4% from last year. Shipping rates from the Gulf to Japan dropped 8% to $50 per metric ton, while Pacific Northwest rates fell 5% to $26.50.
Export sales for marketing year 2025/26 showed mixed results. Unshipped balances of corn, soybeans, and wheat totaled 40.76 million metric tons, down 3% from the prior week but 8% above last year. Net corn sales fell 49% to 0.38 million metric tons, soybeans dropped 26% to 0.88 million metric tons, while wheat sales rose 24% to 0.12 million metric tons.
