U.S. Class I railroads originated 32,041 grain carloads during the week ending Feb. 28, an 11% increase from the previous week, 32% more than last year and 36% above the three-year average, according to the latest Grain Transportation Report released by the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Barged grain movements totaled 610,300 tons for the week ending March 7, up 5% from the previous week and 59% more than the same week last year. However, 390 barges moved downriver, 16 fewer than the previous week, while 758 grain barges were unloaded in the New Orleans region, 9% fewer than the previous week.
Ocean freight activity showed strong growth, with 34 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf for the week ending March 5, 26% more than the same period last year. Within the next 10 days, 58 vessels were expected to be loaded, 49% more than last year.
Shipping rates increased across both coasts. The rate for shipping a metric ton of grain from the U.S. Gulf to Japan reached $58, up 6% from the previous week. The rate from the Pacific Northwest to Japan was $33 per metric ton, also up 6%.
Net wheat export sales for marketing year 2025/26 were 0.46 million metric tons, up 124% from last week. Net corn export sales were 1.53 million metric tons, down 24% from last week, while net soybean export sales were 0.46 million metric tons, up 19%.
