U.S. grain transportation showed contrasting trends last week, with rail shipments declining while ocean vessel loadings increased significantly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Transportation Report released Wednesday.
Class I railroads originated 22,201 grain carloads during the week ending September 6, down 6 percent from the previous week and 3 percent below last year, though still 5 percent above the three-year average.
Barge movements totaled 251,550 tons for the week ending September 13, falling 30 percent from the previous week and 32 percent from the same period last year. The report showed 184 grain barges moved downriver, 47 fewer than the previous week.
In contrast, oceangoing grain vessel loadings in the Gulf reached 30 vessels for the week ending September 11, a 50 percent increase from the same period last year. The New Orleans region reported 854 grain barges unloaded, up 17 percent from the previous week.
Shipping rates increased 2 percent on both major export routes, with Gulf-to-Japan rates at $57.25 per metric ton and Pacific Northwest-to-Japan rates at $29.75.
The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased 2.7 cents to $3.739 per gallon, though remaining 21.3 cents above last year's level.
