OMMODITIES FEATURE
THE COLUMBIA RIVER RUNS ON GRAIN
Over the last five years, grain vessels calling on the Columbia River accounted for more than a third of the total traffic on the river system. In 2020, 563 of the 1,488 vessels recorded were grain vessels. Over 50% of United States grain exports leave out of the Columbia River, totaling over 63.4 billion pounds in 2020 alone. The Columbia River region remains competitive with other terminals on the coast because of a proven intermodal transportation network including robust barge and rail connections. Historically, the distance from the Ports was one of the main issues facing wheat growers seeking to get their product to market or for export trade. Before implementing the Columbia River Dam system, transportation by river meant a stop to unload and reload at the site of the Cascade Rapids. Today, grain from the Western United States is moved efficiently and cost effectively by barges.
single tug boat can easily handle moving 4 barges of grain, each barge can hold 122,500 bushels of grain — that’s 490,000 bushels on a 4-barge tow! In comparison, to move the same amount of grain via truck or rail would take 538 semi-trucks or 140 rail jumbo hoppers; thus, increasing the traffic load, labor and fuel consumption required to transport the grain to a port. The Merchants Exchange offers specialized reporting via cargo type, including a monthly Grain Report and a Daily Grain Bulletin. The Daily Grain Bulletin provides a snapshot of prices in Portland along with the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis futures. Fields of data for Columbia River grain facilities is available for custom reports including: vessel information, export date, berth, destination, commodity type and weight.
There are over 30 grain elevators along the Columbia and Snake Rivers which supply the barges that traverse the Columbia River and its dam systems. Grain barges can be seen all along the Columbia-Snake-Willamette River System from the mouth of the Columbia in Astoria, to the Port of Lewiston in Idaho. Transportation of grain along the river by barge is more fuel efficient and better for the environment than train or truck methods. A 20
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