Weekly U.S. Rail Loadings Up

WASHINGTON - Jan 26/06 - SNS -- The number of carloads of grains and oilseeds delivered to U.S. ports for the week ending January 18 rose, according to the USDA's Transportation and Marketing Programs/Transportation Services Branch weekly Grain Transportation Report.

Total carloads delivered to major port areas during the week totalled 9,122, up from 8,575 the previous week. This lifted calendar year to date deliveries to 26,670 cars, up 4% from the 25,699 cars unloaded during the same period last year.

In releasing its latest transportation update, the USDA noted, "Less grain moved on the Mississippi River in 2005 than in any year since record keeping began in 1988 (see figure). Grain barges moved 33.4 million tons in 2005, a 22% decrease from the 5-year average. Although hurricane-related damage to Mississippi River ports accounts for much of the decline in 2005, the decline began in 2003.

"One reason for the drop in barged grain has been increased movement of non-grain commodities—such as imported steel—in covered barges. Barge companies have been expanding barge routes in order to ship a growing volume of non-grain cargo from New Orleans to inland destinations."

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