Key facts
- The Port of Baltimore has opened a new grain transload facility.
- The facility is a collaboration between Ports America Chesapeake and Frey Commodities.
- It is located at the Seagirt Marine Terminal.
- The facility will handle exports of soybeans, corn, wheat, and other agricultural commodities.
- It is expected to reduce costs and environmental impact for farmers by enabling direct transfer of grain into export containers.
The Port of Baltimore has inaugurated a new grain transloading facility, a collaborative effort between Ports America Chesapeake and Frey Commodities. This facility, situated at the Seagirt Marine Terminal, is designed to simplify the process for Maryland farmers and those in surrounding states to export agricultural products like soybeans, corn, and wheat to global markets.
The four-acre facility includes three grain silos and is expected to be operational by August 2026. It eliminates the current need for farmers to transport their grain to offsite locations for loading into containers. Instead, trucks will deliver grain directly to the terminal, where a conveyor system will transfer it into silos. Ports America Chesapeake will then load the grain into export containers.
Officials highlighted that this direct transloading process will reduce complexity and costs for producers, decrease offsite loading emissions, and significantly cut down on truck miles. This initiative is anticipated to strengthen the region's competitive position in agricultural exports and connect producers more efficiently with growing overseas demand.