U.S. Class I railroads originated 28,361 grain carloads during the week ending June 27, a 1% increase from the previous week and 12% more than last year, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service’s weekly Grain Transportation Report released July 9.
The rail carload total was 33% more than the three-year average. Average July shuttle secondary railcar bids were $88 below tariff for the week ending July 2, down $13 from the previous week and $156 lower than the same week last year.
Barge movements told a different story. For the week ending July 4, barged grain movements totaled 554,300 tons, 5% less than the previous week and 29% less than the same week last year. Some 375 barges moved down river, 21 fewer than the previous week.
Ocean shipping showed strength in the Gulf region. For the week ending July 2, 32 oceangoing grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf, 23% more than the same period last year. Within the next 10 days starting July 3, 39 vessels were expected to be loaded, 5% more than the same period last year.
Shipping rates from the U.S. Gulf to Japan decreased 3% to $67.50 per metric ton as of July 2. The rate from the Pacific Northwest to Japan was $35.75 per metric ton, down 1% from the previous week.
Diesel fuel prices decreased 9 cents from the previous week to $4.578 per gallon for the week ending July 6, though prices remained 83.9 cents above the same week last year.
Export sales data showed unshipped balances of corn and soybeans totaled 17.9 million metric tons, down 9 percent from last week. Net corn export sales for marketing year 2025/26 were 0.57 million metric tons, down 23 percent from last week.
