# Ocean Freight Rates Rise as Grain Shipping Pressures Build - RFD-TV

> RFD-TV reports that bulk grain freight rates rose from the second to the third quarter of 2025 on U.S. Gulf and Pacific Northwest routes, with Gulf-to-Japan up 17%. O'Neil Commodity Consulting data shows rates still below year-ago and four-year averages. Chinese demand for raw materials, Paraná River low water and Golden Week stockpiling drove the increase.

- Date: 2025-12-04 · published 2025-12-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16896-ocean-freight-rates-rise-as-grain-shipping-pressures-build-rfd-tv
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Higher ocean freight raises the landed cost of U.S. corn, wheat and soybeans, reducing export competitiveness and supporting Gulf basis discounts. Expected vessel supply growth may limit further increases.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2026-10-22 | [Rising Ocean Freight Raises Costs for U.S. Grain - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17245-rising-ocean-freight-raises-costs-for-u-s-grain-rfd-tv.md) | -1.2% | — |
| CORN | 2025-08-12 | [Rising Freight Rates for Grain Shipping from Ukraine](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14187-rising-freight-rates-for-grain-shipping-from-ukraine.md) | +0.0% | +4.3% |
| CORN | 2025-12-02 | [Bulk ocean freight rates rise in third quarter 2025 amid shifting global demand \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16894-bulk-ocean-freight-rates-rise-in-third-quarter-2025-amid-shifting-global-demand.md) | +0.5% | +0.3% |
| CORN | 2017-10-04 | [River Freight Cost Pressuring Grain Prices \| 680 KFEQ](https://feedsoft.ai/events/68667-river-freight-cost-pressuring-grain-prices-680-kfeq.md) | -0.4% | -1.6% |
| CORN | 2025-09-25 | [Restrictions, Freight Costs Pressure Grain Movement on the Mississippi River - RFD](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16424-restrictions-freight-costs-pressure-grain-movement-on-the-mississippi-river-rfd.md) | -2.5% | -1.8% |
| SOY | 2026-10-22 | [Rising Ocean Freight Raises Costs for U.S. Grain - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17245-rising-ocean-freight-raises-costs-for-u-s-grain-rfd-tv.md) | -2.3% | — |
| SOY | 2025-12-02 | [Bulk ocean freight rates rise in third quarter 2025 amid shifting global demand \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16894-bulk-ocean-freight-rates-rise-in-third-quarter-2025-amid-shifting-global-demand.md) | -3.0% | -7.2% |
| SOY | 2017-10-04 | [River Freight Cost Pressuring Grain Prices \| 680 KFEQ](https://feedsoft.ai/events/68667-river-freight-cost-pressuring-grain-prices-680-kfeq.md) | +1.1% | +1.9% |

## Sources

- rfdtv.com: https://www.rfdtv.com/ocean-freight-rates-rise-as-grain-shipping-pressures-build

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