The latest Grain Transportation Report from the Agricultural Marketing Service highlights significant disparities in U.S. grain transportation trends for the week ending July 5, 2025. Barge movements saw a dramatic 78 percent year-over-year increase, totaling 780,800 tons, while rail shipments experienced a slight 2-percent week-over-week decline.
U.S. Class I railroads originated 25,327 grain carloads during the week ending June 28, down from the previous week but still 19 percent above both last year's figures and the 3-year average. The number of grain barges moving downriver rose to 525, an increase of 169 from the previous week, reflecting the strong growth in barge movements.
Ocean transportation also showed positive momentum, with 26 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf, marking a 30 percent increase from the same period last year. Shipping rates saw modest increases, with the rate from the U.S. Gulf to Japan rising 1 percent to $48.25 per metric ton.
Fuel prices edged up slightly, with the U.S. average diesel fuel price increasing 1.2 cents to $3.739 per gallon for the week ending July 7, though still 12.6 cents below the same week last year.
Export sales data presented mixed results. While unshipped balances of corn and soybeans totaled 15.96 million metric tons, down 4 percent from the previous week, they remained 21 percent higher than the same time last year. Notably, wheat export sales for marketing year 2025/26 showed significant growth, up 130 percent from the previous week.
These contrasting trends across transportation modes underscore the complex dynamics of the grain transportation sector, reflecting shifting market demands and logistical challenges in the agricultural supply chain.
