Weekly U.S. Rail Loadings Drop

WASHINGTON - May 18/06 - SNS -- The number of carloads of grains and oilseeds delivered to U.S. ports for the week ending May 10 fell, 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 7.014, versus 9,136 the previous week. This lifted calendar year to date deliveries to 180,997 cars, up 4% from the 174,022 cars unloaded during the same period last year.

Discussing underlying transportation issues, the USDA noted that export clearances of wheat, corn and soybeans totalled 26.77 million metric tons (MT) during the first quarter 2006, up 6% from the same quarter last year, but down 10% from the fourth quarter of 2005.

"U.S. grain inspected for export in the U.S. Gulf continued to rebound from the fourth quarter hurricane season," the USDA said. "U.S. Gulf grain inspections, which suffered significant fourth quarter 2005 decreases compared to 2004, increased 10% during the first quarter, at 17.62 million MT. First quarter grain inspections at Gulf ports, however, dropped 3% below the 5-year average."

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