Grain shipping
What it costs to move grain by barge, rail and ocean, how much is moving, and where the Mississippi River stands. Higher freight usually means weaker basis at country elevators. Compared with last week, last year and the 3-year average.
- St. Louis barge rate 723% of tariff (about $28.86/ton), down 5% from last week, up 53% from a year ago, up 14% from the 3-yr average (week of Oct 6).
- Barges moved 332k tons of grain down river (week ending Oct 3), down 16% from the week before, up 9% from a year ago, down 6% from the 3-yr average.
- Shuttle railcars for this month trade over tariff: BNSF $575 (last week $700), UP $125 (last week $700) per car.
- Ocean freight to Japan (Sep): Gulf $76.38/ton, PNW $37.31/ton; a year ago $57.13 and $29.63.
- Mississippi at Memphis +6.1 ft (+3.8 ft in a week), forecast +2.2 ft by Oct 28.
- Mississippi at St. Louis +13.6 ft (-9.5 ft in a week), forecast +2.9 ft by Oct 28.
Barge rates
Downbound grain, percent of the 1976 benchmark tariff, week of Oct 6
| Location | Now | Last week | Year ago | 3-yr avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 723% | 759% | 474% | 632% |
| Twin Cities | 832% | 838% | 650% | 687% |
| Mid-Mississippi | 839% | 846% | 622% | 701% |
| Lower Illinois | 814% | 811% | 608% | 694% |
| Cincinnati | 839% | 925% | 503% | 669% |
| Lower Ohio | 839% | 925% | 503% | 669% |
| Cairo-Memphis | 621% | 721% | 431% | 574% |
Grain moving by barge
Tons through Mississippi Locks 27, Ohio Olmsted and Arkansas Lock 1, week ending Oct 3
| Tons | This week | Week before | Year ago | 3-yr avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 150k | 197k | 203k | 185k |
| Soybeans | 179k | 174k | 90k | 153k |
| Wheat | 2k | 13k | 13k | 13k |
| All grain | 332k | 394k | 305k | 354k |
Cost of moving grain
USDA grain transportation cost indicators (index, higher = costlier)
| Mode | Now | Last week | Year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck | 234 | 241 | 140 |
| Rail (shuttle) | 134 | 130 | 124 |
| Barge | 249 | 248 | 186 |
| Ocean, Gulf | 193 | 193 | 144 |
| Ocean, PNW | 176 | 176 | 140 |
Mississippi River
River stage in feet, NOAA gauges
| Gauge | Now | Week ago | Month ago | Forecast low | Flood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | +6.1 | +2.3 | -4.6 | +2.2 | 34 |
| St. Louis | +13.6 | +23.0 | +3.4 | +2.9 | 30 |
Ocean freight to Japan
Bulk grain, $ per metric ton, Sep 2026: Gulf $76.38 (a year ago $57.13), Pacific Northwest $37.31 (a year ago $29.63).
When barge freight climbs (harvest rush, low water), river terminals bid less for grain, so basis weakens along the river. Rates are a percent of a 1976 benchmark; 100% at St. Louis is $3.99 a ton.
When the Mississippi at Memphis drops near or below zero, barges carry lighter loads, rates jump and grain backs up. Fall is the usual low-water season.
Text Alerts customers can text SHIPPING or RIVER anytime and turn on RIVER ON for low-water and flood heads-ups.
Sources: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Transportation open data (Grain Transportation Report data, posted Thursdays); NOAA National Water Prediction Service river gauges. Cash bids and basis · Export shipments · Report calendar