# Ocean Freight Rates Hit Lowest In Past 12 Weeks | Feed & Grain

> Ocean freight rates for shipping bulk grain fell to their lowest level in 12 weeks, per the USDA Grain Transportation Report. The U.S. Gulf to Japan rate was $49.50 per metric ton, and PNW to Japan was $27 per metric ton, both down week over week though still above early-year levels.

- Date: 2020-10-02 · published 2020-10-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/50831-ocean-freight-rates-hit-lowest-in-past-12-weeks-feed-and-grain
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Lower ocean freight reduces the cost of exporting U.S. grain and soybeans, supporting FOB basis and export competitiveness versus Brazil and Black Sea origins.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2026-01-18 | [Lower Ocean Freight Rates Could Aid Grain Export Margins - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16886-lower-ocean-freight-rates-could-aid-grain-export-margins-rfd-tv.md) | +1.1% | +1.4% |
| CORN | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -1.2% | — |
| CORN | 2020-10-02 | [River Woes Push Basis Lower \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50835-river-woes-push-basis-lower-feed-and-grain.md) | -1.1% | +5.3% |
| CORN | 2026-10-23 | [Mississippi River Grain Freight Rates Fall - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16331-mississippi-river-grain-freight-rates-fall-the-waterways-journal.md) | -0.6% | — |
| CORN | 2021-03-26 | [At least 12 American grain shipments impacted by Suez congestion \| Air Freight News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48029-at-least-12-american-grain-shipments-impacted-by-suez-congestion-air-freight.md) | +1.2% | +8.8% |
| SOY | 2026-01-18 | [Lower Ocean Freight Rates Could Aid Grain Export Margins - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16886-lower-ocean-freight-rates-could-aid-grain-export-margins-rfd-tv.md) | +0.4% | +7.2% |
| SOY | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -2.3% | — |
| SOY | 2020-10-19 | [Grain trade has supported Panamax freight rates but coal risk still remains](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50534-grain-trade-has-supported-panamax-freight-rates-but-coal-risk-still-remains.md) | +3.2% | +8.7% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/news/15394352/ocean-freight-rates-hit-lowest-in-past-12-weeks

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