U.S. grain transportation showed positive momentum across multiple sectors last week, according to the latest Grain Transportation Report from the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.
Class I railroads originated 24,144 grain carloads for the week ending June 7, up 1 percent from the previous week, 10 percent more than last year, and 7 percent above the 3-year average.
Barge movements totaled 732,900 tons for the week ending June 14, slightly down from the previous week but 38 percent higher than the same period last year. The number of grain barges moving downriver increased to 499, up 37 from the previous week.
Ocean shipping activity showed significant growth, with 30 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf during the week ending June 12, up 11 percent from the same period last year. An additional 34 vessels were expected to be loaded within the next 10 days, representing a 17 percent increase over the same period last year.
Shipping rates increased slightly, with the cost of moving grain from the U.S. Gulf to Japan rising 1 percent to $46.25 per metric ton, while rates from the Pacific Northwest to Japan increased 2 percent to $26.50 per metric ton.
Export sales data showed mixed results. Unshipped balances of corn and soybeans totaled 17.98 million metric tons, down 7 percent from the previous week but up 18 percent year-over-year. Wheat's unshipped balance for the new marketing year stood at 5.79 million metric tons, 27 percent above the same time last year.
Net corn export sales decreased 16 percent from the previous week, while soybean export sales dropped 68 percent. Wheat export sales for the 2025/26 marketing year reached 0.39 million metric tons.
