This article has been reprinted from the Feb. 14, USDA Grain Transportation Report.
Rail
U.S. Class I railroads originated 21,508 grain carloads for the week ending February 2, unchanged from the previous week, down 13 percent from last year, and down 12 percent from the 3-year average.
Average February shuttle secondary railcar bids/offers per car were $467 above tariff for the week ending February 7, up $237 from last week, and up $67 from last year.
Average non-shuttle secondary railcar bids/offers per car were $69 above tariff, up $119 from last week.
There were no non-shuttle bids/offers this week last year.
Barge
For the week ending February 9, barge grain movements totaled 410,462 tons, 16 percent higher than the previous week and down 46 percent from the same period last year.
For the week ending February 9, 253 grain barges moved down river, 33 barges more than the previous week.
There were 617 grain barges unloaded in New Orleans, 29 percent lower than the previous week.
Ocean
For the week ending February 7, 26 ocean-going grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf, 28 percent less than the same period last year.
Sixty-nine vessels are expected to be loaded within the next 10 days, 17 percent more than the same period last year.
For the week ending February 7, the ocean freight rate for shipping bulk grain, from the Gulf to Japan, was $38.00 per metric ton, 3 percent less than the previous week.
The cost of shipping, from the PNW to Japan, was $21.50 per metric ton, 2 percent less than the previous week.
Fuel
For the week ending February 11, the U.S. average diesel fuel price was unchanged from the previous week at $2.966 per gallon, 9.7 cents below the same week last year.