# US grain rail carloads decline 9% amid rising barge and ocean shipments | Feed & Grain

> U.S. Class I railroads originated 27,818 grain carloads in the week ending March 21, down 9% week on week but up 7% from a year earlier. Barge grain movements rose 11% to 691,308 tons, and ocean vessel loadings increased 3% year over year.

- Date: 2026-04-02 · published 2026-04-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19899-us-grain-rail-carloads-decline-9-amid-rising-barge-and-ocean-shipments-feed-and
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

A shift of grain volume toward barges and ocean vessels, combined with higher railcar bid prices, shows how transport capacity is being reallocated. The move is routine and has limited direct effect on prices.

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/grain-trade-export/news/15821283/us-grain-rail-carloads-decline-9-amid-rising-barge-and-ocean-shipments

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