# Reducing Mississippi barge traffic stress

> Soy Transportation Coalition's Mike Steenhoek reports that export terminals and barge operators are returning to normal, especially on the lower Mississippi. Some barge loading restrictions remain between St. Louis and Cairo due to low water, with tight margins expected until Missouri River flows increase in spring.

- Date: 2023-02-16 · published 2023-02-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16651-reducing-mississippi-barge-traffic-stress
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Persistent loading limits between St. Louis and Cairo keep barge freight elevated and constrain grain and meal movement. Improving conditions reduce logistics costs but remain fragile.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- BARGE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2023-03-30 | [Mississippi Barge Rate Update](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16640-mississippi-barge-rate-update.md) | +2.3% | -3.4% |
| SOY | 2018-10-03 | [Sensors and Systems Keep Mississippi River Traffic Flowing](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62417-sensors-and-systems-keep-mississippi-river-traffic-flowing.md) | -0.3% | -3.8% |
| SOY | 2016-11-21 | [Mississippi River Reopened after Barge Breakaway](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73762-mississippi-river-reopened-after-barge-breakaway.md) | +6.3% | +2.8% |
| SOY | 2023-05-01 | [USDA: Grain barge delays from Mississippi flooding \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16625-usda-grain-barge-delays-from-mississippi-flooding-feed-and-grain.md) | +1.7% | -7.4% |
| SOY | 2019-06-27 | [Mixed emotions as Upper Mississippi River reopens to barges](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58498-mixed-emotions-as-upper-mississippi-river-reopens-to-barges.md) | -1.0% | -1.3% |
| CORN | 2023-03-30 | [Mississippi Barge Rate Update](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16640-mississippi-barge-rate-update.md) | -0.5% | -3.0% |
| CORN | 2018-10-03 | [Sensors and Systems Keep Mississippi River Traffic Flowing](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62417-sensors-and-systems-keep-mississippi-river-traffic-flowing.md) | -1.7% | -1.3% |
| CORN | 2021-06-23 | [Mississippi River Barge Traffic Slowed By Lower Water Levels \| State News \| voiceofalexandria.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46472-mississippi-river-barge-traffic-slowed-by-lower-water-levels-state-news.md) | +2.8% | -5.4% |

## Sources

- iasoybeans.com: https://www.iasoybeans.com/newsroom/article/reducing-mississippi-barge-traffic-stress

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