# Barge Outlook ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Despite High Water, Tariffs - The Waterways Journal

> At the Inland Marine Expo, IEG Vantage's Ken Eriksen said the barge industry remains cautiously optimistic despite unprecedented high water and disrupted flows linked to the US-China trade dispute. He noted that China's retaliatory tariffs since April 2018 have greatly affected global commodity flows. The Trump administration has offered a $12 billion farm relief package and is considering another $15 billion to $20 billion.

- Date: 2019-05-24 · published 2019-05-24T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/58983-barge-outlook-cautiously-optimistic-despite-high-water-tariffs-the-waterways
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Combined flood disruption and tariffs reduce US soybean and grain export flows, keeping pressure on soybean prices. Potential additional farm aid may cushion farm income but does not restore export demand.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2018-10-05 | [Soy Crop Held Back; No Dramatic Effects On Barge Movements - The Waterways Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62420-soy-crop-held-back-no-dramatic-effects-on-barge-movements-the-waterways-journal.md) | -0.1% | +1.1% |
| SOY | 2025-03-18 | [Tariffs impact on grain market outlooks for Australian crops \| Stock Journal \| SA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25643-tariffs-impact-on-grain-market-outlooks-for-australian-crops-stock-journal-sa.md) | -0.8% | +2.6% |
| SOY | 2025-04-12 | [Canola poised for breakthrough despite tariffs - Manitoba Co-operator](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11672-canola-poised-for-breakthrough-despite-tariffs-manitoba-co-operator.md) | -1.3% | +2.2% |
| SOY | 2018-07-18 | [Soymeal Market Remains Calm in China Despite Tariffs](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64010-soymeal-market-remains-calm-in-china-despite-tariffs.md) | +2.2% | +3.0% |
| SOY | 2018-07-23 | [Crushing it! – Promising Outlook for US Soy Crush Despite Trade War - Rabobank](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64105-crushing-it-promising-outlook-for-us-soy-crush-despite-trade-war-rabobank.md) | +2.4% | +3.7% |

## Sources

- waterwaysjournal.net: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2019/05/24/barge-outlook-cautiously-optimistic-despite-high-water-tariffs/

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