NASHVILLE, TN – Grain movement saw varied performance across transportation modes for the week ending July 26. U.S. Class I railroads originated 25,155 grain carloads, down 9% from the prior week but still 25% higher than last year and 26% above the three-year average. August shuttle railcar bids were $34 below tariff—$3 higher than last week but $216 lower than the same week in 2024. Non-shuttle bids remained at tariff, down $281 from last year.
On the rivers, barge traffic rose sharply. Barged grain movements totaled 843,450 tons, up 15% from the week before and 28% higher than the same week last year. A total of 542 grain barges moved downriver, with 690 unloaded in the New Orleans region—up 16% from the prior week.
Ocean freight also saw active loading. As of July 24, 26 grain vessels had been loaded in the Gulf, an 18% increase over last year. However, only 37 vessels are expected to load in the next 10 days—3% fewer than the same period in 2024. Shipping rates to Japan rose 3% to $54.50 per metric ton from the Gulf and held steady at $29.50 from the Pacific Northwest.
Diesel prices edged down slightly to $3.805 per gallon but 3.7 cents above the same week last year.