The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest Grain Transportation Report reveals a complex picture of the grain export and transportation landscape as of May 8, 2025. Unshipped balances of corn, soybeans, and wheat for the 2024/25 marketing year totaled 23.89 million metric tons, marking a 25% increase from the previous year despite a 5% week-over-week decline.
Net export sales showed varied performance across commodities. Wheat sales surged 150% from the previous week, while soybean sales increased by 55%. However, corn sales experienced a 12% decline.
Rail transportation saw significant growth, with U.S. Class I railroads originating 29,283 grain carloads in the week ending April 26, up 26% from last year and 18% above the three-year average. Barge movements also increased, totaling 779,800 tons for the week ending May 3, an 85% year-over-year jump.
Ocean freight rates from the U.S. Gulf to Japan rose 1% to $46.25 per metric ton, while rates from the Pacific Northwest to Japan increased to $27.25 per metric ton.
The report also noted a slight decrease in U.S. average diesel prices, dropping 1.7 cents to $3.497 per gallon, 39.7 cents lower than the same period last year.
