# State Of The Industry: Open Waters Ahead As Barge Industry Stays Course For 2021 - The Waterways Journal

> The Waterways Journal's annual industry outlook says the barge sector enters 2021 with more optimism than in many years, citing market rebounds, renewed industrial demand and major waterways funding bills. The piece notes that pandemic disruptions to meatpacking, dairy and ethanol affected 2020 but have eased.

- Date: 2021-01-15 · published 2021-01-15T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/49047-state-of-the-industry-open-waters-ahead-as-barge-industry-stays-course-for-2021
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

A stronger barge industry outlook reflects expected rising grain and industrial volumes, which can support barge freight demand. The impact on grain prices is modest.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2020-01-24 | [Contrary Currents For Barge Industry To Continue In 2020 - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54981-contrary-currents-for-barge-industry-to-continue-in-2020-the-waterways-journal.md) | -2.5% | -2.5% |
| CORN | 2024-07-03 | [Barge Fleet Cargo Is Diverse - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16523-barge-fleet-cargo-is-diverse-the-waterways-journal.md) | +0.7% | -0.8% |
| CORN | 2019-10-25 | [Harvest Season Could Be Subdued For Barges - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56459-harvest-season-could-be-subdued-for-barges-the-waterways-journal.md) | -1.2% | -1.5% |
| CORN | 2018-11-16 | [Tariffs Bite At End Of Better Year For Barging - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61940-tariffs-bite-at-end-of-better-year-for-barging-the-waterways-journal.md) | -1.2% | +7.2% |
| CORN | 2025-03-21 | [Spring Forward: What's On The Horizon For The Barge Market? - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16461-spring-forward-what-s-on-the-horizon-for-the-barge-market-the-waterways-journal.md) | -4.7% | +0.6% |
| SOY | 2024-07-03 | [Barge Fleet Cargo Is Diverse - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16523-barge-fleet-cargo-is-diverse-the-waterways-journal.md) | -2.0% | -11.7% |
| SOY | 2019-10-25 | [Harvest Season Could Be Subdued For Barges - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56459-harvest-season-could-be-subdued-for-barges-the-waterways-journal.md) | -1.8% | -3.5% |
| SOY | 2018-11-16 | [Tariffs Bite At End Of Better Year For Barging - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61940-tariffs-bite-at-end-of-better-year-for-barging-the-waterways-journal.md) | -0.9% | +1.8% |

## Sources

- waterwaysjournal.net: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2021/01/15/state-of-the-industry-open-waters-ahead-as-barge-industry-stays-course-for-2021/

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