The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest Grain Transportation Report reveals significant increases in barge and ocean grain shipments for the week ending May 31, 2025, while rail transportation showed modest gains.
Barge movements totaled 859,206 tons, marking a 42% increase from the same period last year and a 17% rise from the previous week. The number of grain barges moving downriver increased by 35 to 549.
Ocean freight also improved, with 24 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf, 4% more than the same period last year. In the next 10 days, 43 vessels were expected to be loaded, representing a 10% increase year-over-year.
Rail transportation saw a slight uptick, with U.S. Class I railroads originating 24,202 grain carloads, up 5% from last year and 2% above the 3-year average. However, this represented a 5% decrease from the previous week.
Export sales for corn, soybeans, and wheat for the 2024/25 marketing year totaled 21.06 million metric tons, down 6% from the previous week but up 27% from last year. Weekly net export sales declined for all three major grains.
Fuel prices offered some relief to transporters, with the U.S. average diesel price dropping 3.6 cents to $3.451 per gallon, 27.5 cents below the same week last year.
These mixed trends highlight the complex dynamics affecting grain transportation across various modes, with water-based transport showing particular strength in recent weeks.
