Through Dec. 12, fourth-quarter barge grain volumes have surpassed one million tons for five weeks in 2020, compared to only one week in 2019 and none in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As of Dec. 12, year-to-date barge grain shipments were 37.3 million tons, 32% higher than the same time in 2019.
High barge grain volumes in 2020 are due to unusually high demand from the international export market and an unusually swift harvest this year, the USDA said. From early...