Unshipped balances of corn, soybeans, and wheat for the 2025/26 marketing year totaled 36.27 million metric tons as of September 11, up 11 percent from the same time last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service's Grain Transportation Report.
U.S. Class I railroads originated 24,221 grain carloads during the week ending September 13, increasing 9 percent from the previous week and 8 percent from last year. Average September shuttle secondary railcar bids were $297 above tariff for the week ending September 18, $268 higher than the previous week.
Barge movements showed mixed signals, with 260,950 tons of grain moved for the week ending September 20. While this represented a 4 percent increase from the previous week, it was 48 percent lower than the same period last year. During the week, 166 grain barges moved downriver, 18 fewer than the previous week.
Ocean shipping activity increased significantly in the Gulf, with 37 oceangoing grain vessels loaded during the week ending September 18, 48 percent more than the same period last year. Shipping rates from the U.S. Gulf to Japan rose 1 percent to $58 per metric ton.
Diesel fuel prices continued to rise, reaching $3.749 per gallon for the week ending September 22, up 1 cent from the previous week and 21 cents above last year.
