(The following appeared on the Journal of Commerce website on May 13, 2011.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of grain barges unloading at New Orleans in recent weeks has dropped 14 percent from average levels for this time of year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, because of river flooding.
In its latest weekly transportation report, the USDA also said that the flow of grain barges on the river system has been running 20 percent below average, although rail hauls of grain shipments have increased.
It was one of several new reports indicating the supply chain for bulk shipments is suffering from the floods.
“The railroads have absorbed some of the excess grain movements,” with above-average rail grain deliveries at all port areas, and deliveries up 161 percent to the Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico area, the USDA said. But it said rail shipment delays of 12 to 36 hours continue across a flood region that has extended from North Dakota down to Mississippi.
Full story: www.joc.com