# A year of grain transportation challenges and changes | Feed & Grain

> A year-end review of USDA grain transportation data shows 2023 export inspections fell to about 105.5 mmt from 129.9 mmt, with corn down 24 percent, largely from a 64 percent drop in shipments to China. Barge obstacles from spring high water and volatile ocean freight rates also marked the year.

- Date: 2023-12-29 · published 2023-12-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/32912-a-year-of-grain-transportation-challenges-and-changes-feed-and-grain
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Lower export inspections signal weaker US export demand, which is bearish for US corn and soybeans, while volatile freight adds cost to export competitiveness.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- WHEAT: bearish ▼
- OCEANFRT: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2019-02-21 | [Grain Transportation Report, February 21, 2019](https://feedsoft.ai/events/60482-grain-transportation-report-february-21-2019.md) | -3.2% | +0.7% |
| WHEAT | 2022-04-21 | [Grain Transportation Report, April 21, 2022](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16719-grain-transportation-report-april-21-2022.md) | +8.3% | +12.9% |
| WHEAT | 2023-04-27 | [Grain Transportation Report, April 27, 2023](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16635-grain-transportation-report-april-27-2023.md) | +1.1% | -2.6% |
| WHEAT | 2023-08-24 | [Grain Transportation Report, August 24, 2023](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16609-grain-transportation-report-august-24-2023.md) | -4.9% | -2.2% |
| WHEAT | 2018-05-03 | [Grain Transportation Report, May 3, 2018](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64904-grain-transportation-report-may-3-2018.md) | -3.3% | -1.0% |
| SOY | 2023-02-02 | [Grain Transportation Report, February 2, 2023](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16648-grain-transportation-report-february-2-2023.md) | -0.0% | -0.0% |
| SOY | 2024-02-29 | [Grain Transportation Report, February 29, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16567-grain-transportation-report-february-29-2024.md) | +0.6% | +5.2% |
| SOY | 2024-02-01 | [Grain Transportation Report, February 1, 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31832-grain-transportation-report-february-1-2024.md) | -2.7% | -7.7% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/transportation/news/15661015/a-year-of-grain-transportation-challenges-and-changes

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