# USDA finds higher freight lifted grain costs to Mexico in third quarter

> USDA AMS reported that the cost of delivering U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat to Mexico rose on every tracked route from the second to third quarter of 2026. Water routes rose most, with Illinois corn and soybean transport to Veracruz up 18% to $82.68 per metric ton, driven by barge rates lifted by low Mississippi River water, higher ocean rates and diesel costs.

- Date: 2026-11-12 · published 2026-11-13T03:07:18.873Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/97019-usda-finds-higher-freight-lifted-grain-costs-to-mexico-in-third-quarter
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

Higher logistics costs widen the basis gap for U.S. grain sold into Mexico, reducing export competitiveness versus other origins and weighing on Gulf and Mississippi barge-linked prices.

## Read by commodity

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

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2026-05-22 | [Grain transport costs to Mexico rise in Q1 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16361-grain-transport-costs-to-mexico-rise-in-q1-feed-and-grain.md) | -2.2% | -8.0% |
| CORN | 2025-03-14 | [US grain transportation costs to Mexico show mixed trends in Q4 2024 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16467-us-grain-transportation-costs-to-mexico-show-mixed-trends-in-q4-2024-feed-and.md) | +6.8% | +5.7% |
| 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 | 2019-02-14 | [Grain Journal \| Fourth Quarter Ocean Freight Rates Up in 2018,…](https://feedsoft.ai/events/60487-grain-journal-fourth-quarter-ocean-freight-rates-up-in-2018.md) | -1.4% | -3.4% |
| CORN | 2023-10-08 | [USDA Explores Third-Quarter Barged Grain Movements on the Mississippi River - Farm Policy News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16595-usda-explores-third-quarter-barged-grain-movements-on-the-mississippi-river.md) | -0.2% | -3.4% |
| SOY | 2026-05-22 | [Grain transport costs to Mexico rise in Q1 \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16361-grain-transport-costs-to-mexico-rise-in-q1-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.8% | -5.6% |
| 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 | 2019-02-14 | [Grain Journal \| Fourth Quarter Ocean Freight Rates Up in 2018,…](https://feedsoft.ai/events/60487-grain-journal-fourth-quarter-ocean-freight-rates-up-in-2018.md) | -0.6% | -2.9% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/grain-supply-chain/grain-trade-export/news/16425433/usda-finds-higher-freight-lifted-grain-costs-to-mexico-in-third-quarter

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