This article has been reprinted from the Feb. 7 USDA Grain Transportation Report.
Rail
U.S. Class I railroads originated 21,435 grain carloads for the week ending January 26, down 6 percent from the previous week, 5 percent from last year, and 3 percent from the 3-year average.
Average February shuttle secondary railcar bids/offers per car were $230 above tariff for the week ending January 31, up $328 from last week, and up $164 from last year.
Average non-shuttle secondary railcar bids/offers per car were $50 below tariff, down $142 from last week, and down $69 from last year.
Barge
For the week ending February 2, barge grain movements totaled 355,301 tons, 22 percent lower than the previous week and down 47 percent from the same period last year.
For the week ending February 2, 220 grain barges moved down river, 51 barges less than the previous week.
There were 865 grain barges unloaded in New Orleans, 5 percent higher than the previous week.
Ocean
For the week ending January 31, 34 ocean-going grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf, 15 percent less than the same period last year.
Fifty-two vessels are expected to be loaded within the next 10 days, 16 percent less than the same period last year.
For the week ending January 31, the ocean freight rate for shipping bulk grain, from the Gulf to Japan, was $39.00 per metric ton, 5 percent less than the previous week.
The cost of shipping, from the PNW to Japan, was $22.00 per metric ton, 4 percent less than the previous week