The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's December 25 Grain Transportation Report showed that U.S. Class I railroads originated 28,750 grain carloads during the week ending December 20, marking a 1% increase from the previous week, 8% more than last year, and 10% above the three-year average. Average shuttle secondary railcar bids were $863 above tariff, down $202 from the prior week but $756 higher than the same week last year. Non-shuttle bids averaged $38 above tariff, a decrease from last week and lower than last year.
Barge grain movements fell sharply to 404,341 tons for the week ending December 27, down 20% from the previous week and 57% below the same period last year. The number of barges moving downriver dropped by 47 to 270, while grain barge unloads in the New Orleans region fell 41% to 513.
Ocean shipments remained steady with 29 grain vessels loaded in the Gulf, 3% fewer than last year. Forty vessels are expected to load in the next 10 days, 17% fewer than the previous year.
Diesel fuel prices averaged $3.50 per gallon for the week ending December 29, down 4.4 cents from last week and slightly below last year.
Export sales showed mixed results for the week ending December 18. Unshipped balances of corn, soybeans, and wheat totaled 43.11 million metric tons, unchanged from the prior week but 4% higher than last year. Net corn export sales rose 26% to 2.20 million metric tons, while soybean and wheat sales declined 56% and 66%, respectively.
