# Economist’s Angle: Transportation Issues Challenge Soybean Exports - American Soybean Association

> The American Soybean Association's chief economist says low Mississippi River levels and a potential rail strike are slowing soybean exports and raising costs. Corn Belt soybeans rely heavily on barge and rail to reach ports. Soybean exports were valued above $27 billion in 2021.

- Date: 2022-12-01 · published 2022-12-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16666-economist-s-angle-transportation-issues-challenge-soybean-exports-american
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Higher transport costs and slower export flows reduce the prices farmers receive, and they can widen the spread between domestic and export markets. A rail strike would further restrict movement to the Gulf.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2024-01-08 | [Understanding corn and soybean transportation costs in Q3 2023 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16571-understanding-corn-and-soybean-transportation-costs-in-q3-2023-feed-and-grain.md) | -3.5% | -4.3% |
| SOY | 2018-05-25 | [Contact Us - Sherbrooke Record - Record harvest, uneven exports poised to scramble grain storage and transportation logistics](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64935-contact-us-sherbrooke-record-record-harvest-uneven-exports-poised-to-scramble.md) | -1.4% | -13.6% |
| SOY | 2023-09-28 | [Low Mississippi River Levels Drive up Grain Transportation Costs \| Farm Bureau Intel Markets \| American Farm Bureau Federation](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16601-low-mississippi-river-levels-drive-up-grain-transportation-costs-farm-bureau.md) | -2.3% | -1.2% |
| SOY | 2023-12-13 | [Ag transportation expert: unclear how low Mississippi River is affecting ag exports - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16583-ag-transportation-expert-unclear-how-low-mississippi-river-is-affecting-ag.md) | -0.8% | -7.0% |
| SOY | 2025-10-06 | [Business Insurance - Magazine - Record harvest, uneven exports poised to scramble grain storage and transportation logistics](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22407-business-insurance-magazine-record-harvest-uneven-exports-poised-to-scramble.md) | -1.1% | +8.0% |

## Sources

- soygrowers.com: https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/economists-angle-transportation-issues-challenge-soybean-exports/

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