With yet another record grain crop this year, having the transportation infrastructure to keeping it moving is more important than ever.
“Transportation is everything,” said Ken Eriksen with Informa Economics at this week’s Export Exchange, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council.
Eriksen says grain exports are expected to set a record this year at 5.4 billion bushels of grain by the end of this year. “During October, November and December, we’re going to be running about 1.9 billion bushels of exports,” he said. “To do that we’re going to be running about 150 million bushels a week out of the United States.” Because that pace has not been met in the first part of October, Eriksen says it will have to jump up to as much as 180 million bushels for the rest of the year. “The best we’ve ever done in one week is 148 million and that was one year ago.”
“This year is going to be about as good as it gets for moving grain, soybeans, DDGS and other products out of the United States,” said Eriksen. “The challenge for the industry is to continue to encourage investment in infrastructure.”
Listen to Eriksen’s presentation here: Ken Eriksen, Informa Economics at Export Exchange
2016 Export Exchange Photo Album
