LUBBOCK, TX – U.S. soybean transportation patterns are changing as domestic crush grows and railroads adjust rates to compete for shifting export and processing demand. USDA says more soybeans are moving toward domestic processors while the export share has declined.
Domestic soybean crush reached 2.2 billion bushels during the first 10 months of the current marketing year, 17% above the prior five-year average. USDA projects crush at 2.7 billion bushels for the full year.
Railroads are responding by changing tariff structures. BNSF is cutting many rates to Mexico while raising rates in the Pacific Northwest, and Union Pacific plans broader increases beginning in September.
For producers, freight changes can influence basis, elevator competition and where soybeans ultimately move. New crush plants are also increasing local competition for bushels in parts of the Plains and Midwest.
USDA projects a record 4.5-billion-bushel soybean crop in 2026/2027, with record total use and stronger exports increasing pressure on transportation networks after harvest.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Changes in rail rates and expanded crush capacity could reshape soybean basis and marketing opportunities across producing regions.