U.S. grain transportation showed varied performance across different modes for early September, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service's weekly Grain Transportation Report released Thursday.
Class I railroads originated 23,726 grain carloads during the week ending August 30, down 5 percent from the previous week but unchanged from last year and 12 percent above the three-year average.
Barge movements totaled 360,933 tons for the week ending September 6, declining 6 percent from the previous week and 9 percent from the same period last year. During this period, 231 grain barges moved downriver, 10 fewer than the previous week.
Ocean shipping showed more positive indicators with 26 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf during the week ending September 4, an 8 percent increase from the same period last year. An additional 47 vessels were expected to be loaded within the next 10 days.
Shipping rates remained stable, with the cost from the U.S. Gulf to Japan holding at $56.00 per metric ton and Pacific Northwest to Japan rates steady at $29.25 per metric ton.
Meanwhile, unshipped balances of corn and soybeans totaled 2.96 million metric tons, down 46 percent from the previous week but 6 percent higher than last year.
