# Diverted shipping routes are changing trade flows - Brownfield Ag News

> The chief economist of the National Grain and Feed Association says Suez Canal traffic is diverting toward safer routes, adding time and cost. Grain flows are shifting toward Pacific Northwest exports, which he notes have limited capacity, while lower Panama Canal water levels also raise costs.

- Date: 2024-01-31 · published 2024-01-31T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/32019-diverted-shipping-routes-are-changing-trade-flows-brownfield-ag-news
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Gulf-origin grain now faces higher freight, pushing more volume to the Pacific Northwest and tightening capacity there, which raises export freight costs and can widen basis differences across US regions.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-07-22 | [River traffic returning to normal - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16527-river-traffic-returning-to-normal-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.1% | -2.2% |
| CORN | 2024-04-12 | [Shipping disruptions impact global grain merchandisers - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30628-shipping-disruptions-impact-global-grain-merchandisers-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -0.2% | +1.2% |
| CORN | 2019-03-21 | [Northern snow melt could delay grain shipping on the Mississippi River - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59980-northern-snow-melt-could-delay-grain-shipping-on-the-mississippi-river.md) | -1.2% | -4.1% |
| CORN | 2024-05-09 | [Rain affecting ag transportation - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16542-rain-affecting-ag-transportation-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.7% | +0.5% |
| CORN | 2023-02-13 | [A shorter navigation season expected for MO River - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/37496-a-shorter-navigation-season-expected-for-mo-river-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -1.3% | -6.3% |
| SOY | 2025-06-26 | [Storm runoff beginning to impact shipping - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16444-storm-runoff-beginning-to-impact-shipping-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.5% | -2.0% |
| SOY | 2024-07-22 | [River traffic returning to normal - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16527-river-traffic-returning-to-normal-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -1.8% | -14.4% |
| SOY | 2018-07-19 | [Analysis shows benefits of dredging Lower Mississippi River - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/63915-analysis-shows-benefits-of-dredging-lower-mississippi-river-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +2.2% | +1.8% |

## Sources

- brownfieldagnews.com: https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/diverted-shipping-routes-are-changing-trade-flows/

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