Grainnet

Transportation Overview by Sector

This article is reprinted from the USDA's May 8 Grain Transportation Report.

Rail

U.S. railroads originated 24,193 carloads of grain during the week ending April 26, down 3.5 percent from the previous week, up 20 percent from the same week last year, and 14 percent higher than the 3-year average.

Ocean

As of May 2, the cost of shipping grain from the Gulf to Japan was $123 per mt, up 3 percent from the previous week.

The rate from the PNW to Japan was $68 per mt, down 1 percent from the previous week.

Barge

During the week ending May 3, barge grain movements totaled 309,000 tons, down 46 percent from the previous week and 42 percent less than the same period last year.

Export Sales

During the week ending April 24, corn (.551 mmt), soybean (.311 mmt), and wheat (.176 mmt) export sales totaled 1.0 mmt—down 21 percent from the previous week but 49 percent higher than this week last year.

For more information, call Surajudeen (Deen) Olowolayemo, USDA, at 202-690-1328.