NASHVILLE, TN – Higher transportation expenses increased the cost of delivering U.S. corn and soybeans to Japan during the second quarter, adding pressure to export competitiveness even as farm-level commodity values remained mixed. USDA says Gulf-route transportation costs jumped 33% from a year earlier.
For corn shipped through the Gulf, transportation cost about $3.43 per bushel, and total landed cost reached roughly $7.48. Through the Pacific Northwest, transportation was about $2.91 per bushel and landed cost was approximately $6.96.
Soybean landed costs reached about $14.61 per bushel through the Gulf and $14.27 through the Pacific Northwest. Higher ocean, barge, rail and truck rates contributed to the increase.
U.S. second-quarter corn exports to Japan totaled about 142 million bushels, down 15% from last year. Soybean shipments totaled about 18 million bushels, up 4%.
USDA expects total U.S. corn exports to decline 4% in 2026/27, while soybean exports are projected to increase 9%, making transportation efficiency increasingly important for maintaining overseas demand.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Higher freight costs can weaken U.S. grain competitiveness even when farm prices remain attractive to foreign buyers.