# Eriksen: Barge Fleet Shrinking, Aging - The Waterways Journal

> The US barge fleet contracted about 1% in 2020 and is aging, with average age now 15.5 years. The open hopper fleet is shrinking fast as coal cargoes decline, while covered barges have reached record levels, largely for agricultural cargoes.

- Date: 2021-11-05 · published 2021-11-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/44236-eriksen-barge-fleet-shrinking-aging-the-waterways-journal
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

A shrinking open fleet and high steel costs that slow new barge construction could tighten inland barge capacity, which tends to support barge freight rates for grain shippers.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- waterwaysjournal.net: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2021/11/05/eriksen-barge-fleet-shrinking-aging/

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