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A new analysis says the US barge fleet has shrunk nearly 8% over the past decade and the average barge is over 17 years old, with more vessels retired each year than built. CoBank economist Tanner Ehmke says a new barge now costs more than $1 million.
The Mississippi carries about half of US corn and soybean shipments and a third of wheat exports.
Tighter barge capacity raises shipping costs that come out of what growers receive, so the mechanism is weaker Midwest farm-gate prices and higher export logistics costs over the coming decade.
davidsoncountyherald.comMia BennettNov 14, 2026After 363 past bearish logistics events, Corn moved a median -0.3% over 5 sessions (45% higher; middle half -1.5% to +1.5%), and -0.5% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
