According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the week ending April 30, barged grain movements totaled 790,572 tons. This was 12% less than the previous week but 18% more than the same period last year. For the week ending April 30, 493 grain barges moved down river — 56 fewer barges than the previous week. There were 680 grain barges unloaded in the New Orleans region, 7% fewer than last week.
For the week ending April 28, 36 oceangoing grain vessels were loaded in the Gulf — 3% more than the same period last year. For the next 10 days (starting April 29), 39 vessels were expected to be loaded — 25% fewer than the same period last year. As of April 28, the rate for shipping a metric ton (mt) of grain from the U.S. Gulf to Japan was $79.00. This was unchanged from the previous week. The rate from the PNW to Japan was $44.25 per mt, 1% less than the previous week.
For the week ending May 2, 2022, the U.S. average diesel fuel price rose to $5.509 per gallon, 34.9 cents from the previous week and 236.7 cents above the same week last year. Reflecting an increase of 40.8 cents per gallon from three weeks ago, this week’s diesel price is the highest since March 14’s $5.25 per gallon. This week’s price also marks the highest-ever price on record and contains the second largest week-to-week increase on record. (The largest week-to-week increase of 74.5 cents occurred just under two months ago, on March 7.)
In the Midwest, the diesel price rose to $5.329 per gallon, 34.2 cents per gallon and 224.4 cents above the same time last year. Diesel provides the main fuel for trucks, railroad engines, barges, and oceangoing vessels. A surge in diesel prices directly impacts transportation costs.
