NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Federal transportation decisions are influencing how grain reaches export markets. That matters because rail access, terminal service, and equipment availability can affect shipping speed, costs, and competitiveness for agricultural products.
The Surface Transportation Board approved Norfolk Southern’s control of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, a 36-mile switching line serving the Port of Virginia. Regulators said the line must remain a neutral switching carrier operated on a uniform, cost-plus basis.
That ruling matters for grain exports. In 2025, the Port of Virginia handled 2.4 million metric tons of containerized grain exports, 5 percent above the prior 5-year average. The switching railroad also serves Perdue AgriBusiness’s Chesapeake export terminal, the only deepwater bulk grain terminal on the East Coast.
At the same time, BNSF sold new forward grain-train contracts at strong prices. In its first auction for yearlong direct destination train service, five contracts sold for a combined $3.1 million. Another 17 four-month contracts beginning in August sold for $4.5 million.
Agricultural groups also told the Federal Maritime Commission that ocean carriers’ chassis rules create delays, raise costs, and increase export risk when truckers and shippers cannot freely choose equipment.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Rail rulings, export terminal access, and equipment rules are becoming bigger factors in grain shipping costs and reliability.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
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