Miss. Gulf grain inspections up 21%

For the week ending Aug. 1, total inspections of grain (corn, wheat, and soybeans) for export from all major American export regions was 2.12M metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly 'Grain Transportation Report'. That number is down four (4) percent from the previous week; and 18 percent from 2018. Despite the downturn, Mississippi Gulf grain inspections increased 21 percent from the previous week. The increase was due to increased inspections of soybeans and wheat. Total grain inspections in the Mississippi Gulf were also the highest since late April. Pacific Northwest grain inspections were down 22 percent from week to week, USDA reported. For the week ending Aug. 3, barge grain movements totaled 677,434 tons, a 14 percent drop from the previous week and 16 percent less than the same period in 2018, the GTR stated. For the week ending Aug. 3, 442 grain barges moved down river, 54 fewer barges than the previous week. There was 660 grain barges unloaded in New Orleans, 12 percent above the previous week. (Source: Work Boat 08/08/19)