U.S. Class I railroads originated 27,626 grain carloads during the week ending July 25, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service’s weekly Grain Transportation Report released August 6.
The figure represents a 2% increase from the previous week, 2% more than last year, and 18% more than the 3-year average.
Secondary railcar markets showed mixed results. Average August shuttle secondary railcar bids and offers reached $77 above tariff for the week ending July 30, up $77 from the previous week and $123 more than this week last year. Non-shuttle secondary railcar bids and offers averaged $110 above tariff, down $18 from last week but $110 more than this week last year.
Barged grain movements totaled 801,380 tons for the week ending August 1, up 2% from the previous week and 3% more than the same week last year. The number of barges moving downriver dropped to 527, down 21 from the previous week. In the New Orleans region, 598 grain barges were unloaded, 1% fewer than the previous week.
Ocean shipping activity declined year over year. For the week ending July 30, 27 oceangoing grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf, 10% fewer than the same period last year. Within the next 10 days starting July 31, 28 vessels were expected to be loaded, 28% fewer than the same period last year.
Shipping rates held steady, with the U.S. Gulf to Japan rate at $69.50 per metric ton and the Pacific Northwest to Japan rate at $36.25 per metric ton, both unchanged from the previous week.
Diesel fuel prices climbed 3.5 cents to $5.348 per gallon for the week ending August 1, now 154.8 cents above the same week last year.
Export sales showed declines across most categories. Unshipped balances of corn and soybeans totaled 11.19 million metric tons, down 16% from last week.
