
The latest Grain Transportation Report, released on January 16, 2025, by the Agricultural Marketing Service, reveals contrasting trends across various grain transportation modes in the United States. Key highlights from the report include:
Rail transportation:
- U.S. Class I railroads originated 24,486 grain carloads for the week ending January 4, a 6% increase from the previous week but 6% fewer than last year.
- January shuttle secondary railcar bids/offers averaged $113 below tariff, $119 less than last week and $213 lower than last year.
Barge movements:
- Barged grain movements totaled 452,340 tons for the week ending January 11, down 36% from the previous week and 35% year-over-year.
- 293 grain barges moved downriver, 152 fewer than last week.
Ocean freight:
- 28 oceangoing grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf for the week ending January 9, 3% fewer than the same period last year.
- 44 vessels were expected to be loaded within the next 10 days, 20% fewer than the same period last year.
Fuel prices:
- The U.S. average diesel price rose 4.1 cents to $3.602 per gallon for the week ending January 13, though still 26.1 cents below the same week last year.
Export sales:
- Unshipped balances of corn, soybeans, and wheat for marketing year 2024/25 totaled 37.72 million metric tons (mmt), down 5% from last week but up 7% year-over-year.
- Net export sales declined across all three commodities compared to the previous week:
- Corn: 0.45 mmt, down 43%
- Soybeans: 0.29 mmt, down 40%
- Wheat: 0.11 mmt, down 21%
This report underscores the dynamic nature of grain transportation across various modes, with rail showing positive movement while barge and ocean freight face significant declines. The slight increase in diesel prices adds another factor for industry stakeholders to consider. These trends may have substantial implications for grain handling, processing, and logistics strategies in the coming weeks, particularly as export sales show mixed signals compared to previous periods.
Industry participants should closely monitor these developments, as they could impact transportation costs, delivery times, and overall supply chain efficiency in the grain sector. The divergent trends across transportation modes may also influence decision-making regarding preferred shipping methods and route planning for grain exports.