Key facts
- Corn inspections at Mississippi River terminals surged to 1.1 million metric tons for the week ending August 13.
- This figure is a 176% increase compared to the prior three-year average.
- The total was the third-highest weekly volume recorded this year.
- Above-average corn volumes were observed on the Mississippi River System.
- Pacific Northwest inspections were nearly 200% above average.
- Rail and barge movements also saw significant activity.
- Oceanic grain vessel loadings in the Gulf were up 164% year-over-year.
Corn export inspections via the Mississippi River surged significantly for the week ending August 13, reaching 1.1 million metric tons. This volume represents a 176 percent increase over the average of the previous three years and marks the third-highest weekly total recorded this year. The uptick is attributed to above-average corn volumes moving through the Mississippi River System.
In addition to the Mississippi River, inspections at Pacific Northwest terminals also saw a substantial rise, totaling 0.4 million metric tons, nearly 200 percent above average. Interior inspections, primarily railed exports to Mexico, reached 0.3 million metric tons, up 26 percent.
Rail and barge movements contributed to the overall increase in grain transportation. Class I railroads originated 26,705 grain carloads in the week ending August 8, with average secondary railcar bids for shuttle trains at $150 above tariff. Barged grain movements totaled 638,650 tons for the week ending August 15.
Ocean transportation also saw increased activity, with 29 oceangoing grain vessels loaded in the Gulf for the week ending August 13, a 164 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Unshipped balances for corn and soybeans were down 21 percent from the previous week but remained 5 percent higher year-over-year.
The Grain Transportation Report also provided updates on other industry matters, including the resumption of the Surface Transportation Board's review of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger, and the release of the 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, which indicated a rise in trucking costs per mile.