# New Orleans Grain Barges Hit 873 as Low Water Trims Tows

> New Orleans-area grain barge unloadings rose 16% to 873 in the week ended Oct. 17, though barged grain tonnage was 7% below last year. Coast Guard low-water restrictions limit southbound drafts, and St. Louis barge rates ran 20% above last year. Gulf export loadings were 3% above last year but expected to be softer over the next 10 days.

- Date: 2026-10-23 · published 2026-10-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16330-new-orleans-grain-barges-hit-873-as-low-water-trims-tows
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Low-water draft limits and elevated freight rates raise the cost of moving grain to export positions, supporting barge rates and pressuring Gulf export competitiveness and local basis.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2023-09-21 | [Barge loads reduced as low water impacts Mississippi River \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16605-barge-loads-reduced-as-low-water-impacts-mississippi-river-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.2% | +0.5% |
| CORN | 2022-09-29 | [Low water on the Mississippi River impacting barge traffic \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16679-low-water-on-the-mississippi-river-impacting-barge-traffic-ap-news.md) | +1.7% | +4.0% |
| CORN | 2024-09-04 | [Low water levels on the Mississippi River impact barges and grain exports before harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16513-low-water-levels-on-the-mississippi-river-impact-barges-and-grain-exports.md) | -1.4% | +4.9% |
| CORN | 2018-05-01 | [Grain barge tonnage below average](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65382-grain-barge-tonnage-below-average.md) | +1.7% | +3.5% |
| CORN | 2025-09-25 | [Low water levels return to Mississippi River as harvest season begins \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16423-low-water-levels-return-to-mississippi-river-as-harvest-season-begins-feed-and.md) | -2.5% | -1.8% |
| SOY | 2022-10-06 | [Barges grounded by low water halt Mississippi River traffic \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16678-barges-grounded-by-low-water-halt-mississippi-river-traffic-ap-news.md) | +1.9% | +5.1% |
| SOY | 2023-09-21 | [Barge loads reduced as low water impacts Mississippi River \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16605-barge-loads-reduced-as-low-water-impacts-mississippi-river-feed-and-grain.md) | -1.3% | -0.7% |
| SOY | 2024-09-04 | [Low water levels on the Mississippi River impact barges and grain exports before harvest](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16513-low-water-levels-on-the-mississippi-river-impact-barges-and-grain-exports.md) | -2.0% | +6.0% |

## Sources

- louisianatradeandcommerce.com: https://www.louisianatradeandcommerce.com/post/mississippi-river-grain-barges-low-water

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.