# Grain Journal | Fourth Quarter Ocean Freight Rates Up in 2018,…

> USDA's Grain Transportation Report says ocean freight rates for bulk grain rose in 2018 to their highest level since 2014. Gulf-to-Japan rates averaged $45.39 per mt (up 15%), PNW-to-Japan $25.07 (up 19%), and Gulf-to-Europe $19.85 (up 28%). Rates remain below 2008 peaks due to excess vessel supply.

- Date: 2019-02-14 · published 2019-02-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/60487-grain-journal-fourth-quarter-ocean-freight-rates-up-in-2018
- 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

Higher freight widens the effective cost gap between US origin and competing origins, which can cut US export competitiveness and weigh on FOB basis, while raising landed feed-ingredient costs for importers.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-12-02 | [Bulk ocean freight rates rise in third quarter 2025 amid shifting global demand \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16894-bulk-ocean-freight-rates-rise-in-third-quarter-2025-amid-shifting-global-demand.md) | +0.5% | +0.3% |
| CORN | 2022-03-17 | [Grain Journal \| Downbound Barged Grain Spot Freight Rates Rise Sharply](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42187-grain-journal-downbound-barged-grain-spot-freight-rates-rise-sharply.md) | +2.8% | +7.8% |
| CORN | 2026-10-22 | [Rising Ocean Freight Raises Costs for U.S. Grain - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17245-rising-ocean-freight-raises-costs-for-u-s-grain-rfd-tv.md) | -1.2% | — |
| CORN | 2025-12-04 | [Ocean Freight Rates Rise as Grain Shipping Pressures Build - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16896-ocean-freight-rates-rise-as-grain-shipping-pressures-build-rfd-tv.md) | +0.4% | +0.1% |
| CORN | 2025-08-12 | [Rising Freight Rates for Grain Shipping from Ukraine](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14187-rising-freight-rates-for-grain-shipping-from-ukraine.md) | +0.0% | +4.3% |
| SOY | 2025-12-02 | [Bulk ocean freight rates rise in third quarter 2025 amid shifting global demand \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16894-bulk-ocean-freight-rates-rise-in-third-quarter-2025-amid-shifting-global-demand.md) | -3.0% | -7.2% |
| SOY | 2022-03-17 | [Grain Journal \| Downbound Barged Grain Spot Freight Rates Rise Sharply](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42187-grain-journal-downbound-barged-grain-spot-freight-rates-rise-sharply.md) | +4.2% | +1.6% |
| SOY | 2026-10-22 | [Rising Ocean Freight Raises Costs for U.S. Grain - RFD-TV](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17245-rising-ocean-freight-raises-costs-for-u-s-grain-rfd-tv.md) | -2.3% | — |

## Sources

- grainjournal.com: https://www.grainjournal.com/article/163251/fourth-quarter-ocean-freight-rates-up-in-2018-pushing-rates-highest-since-2014

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