# Ocean freight rates for grain remain below previous year despite recent uptick | Feed & Grain

> USDA's Grain Transportation Report shows ocean freight for bulk grain held steady in Q2 2025 but ran well below Q2 2024 levels. US Gulf to Japan averaged $46.42 per metric ton, down 24% year over year, reflecting weak Chinese coal and soybean imports offset by iron ore.

- Date: 2025-08-01 · published 2025-08-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16923-ocean-freight-rates-for-grain-remain-below-previous-year-despite-recent-uptick
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

Lower ocean freight widens the export competitiveness of US grain into Asia and lowers CFR costs for buyers, modestly supporting US export basis and feed grain demand abroad.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-11-01 | [Cattle on Feed Remains Elevated, Despite Low Cattle Inventory](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27996-cattle-on-feed-remains-elevated-despite-low-cattle-inventory.md) | +2.5% | -0.2% |
| CORN | 2018-09-18 | [Farm production value remains stable despite drought: ABARES - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62989-farm-production-value-remains-stable-despite-drought-abares-grain-central.md) | +3.0% | +6.2% |
| CORN | 2026-07-31 | [Grain Transport Demand Strong Despite Fuel Price Swings \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16352-grain-transport-demand-strong-despite-fuel-price-swings-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.1% | +7.1% |
| CORN | 2025-07-14 | [USDA forecasts lower corn supplies, higher biofuel demand in latest outlook \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23712-usda-forecasts-lower-corn-supplies-higher-biofuel-demand-in-latest-outlook-feed.md) | +0.9% | -1.2% |
| CORN | 2024-04-16 | [USDA revises corn and sorghum forecasts for 2023/24 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30811-usda-revises-corn-and-sorghum-forecasts-for-2023-24-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.3% | +3.3% |
| SOY | 2025-12-10 | [Argentina soybean exports to rise despite lower production \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13818-argentina-soybean-exports-to-rise-despite-lower-production-feed-and-grain.md) | -2.3% | -3.7% |
| SOY | 2021-05-12 | [Soybeans Surge Near 9-Year High \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11984-soybeans-surge-near-9-year-high-feed-and-grain.md) | -3.9% | -4.6% |
| SOY | 2025-05-15 | [USDA forecasts lower US soybean stocks, record crush for 2025/26 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24760-usda-forecasts-lower-us-soybean-stocks-record-crush-for-2025-26-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.4% | -2.3% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/grain-trade-export/news/15752092/ocean-freight-rates-for-grain-remain-below-previous-year-despite-recent-uptick

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