NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — Transportation costs climbed from the second to the third quarter of 2025 for both U.S. and Brazilian soybean exports, reshaping landed costs and export competitiveness into China and Europe. New analysis from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service shows higher barge and ocean freight rates were the primary drivers, even as farm values softened in parts of the United States.
For U.S. soybeans moving to China, total transportation costs rose on Gulf and Pacific Northwest routes. Higher barge rates tied to low Mississippi River water levels and firm ocean freight demand outweighed modest declines in truck and rail costs. Despite rising transport expenses, lower farm prices helped limit increases in landed costs, particularly for PNW shipments.
Brazil faced sharper cost pressure. Truck and ocean freight rates increased for shipments to both China and Germany, pushing Brazilian landed costs higher quarter to quarter and year over year. Transportation accounted for as much as 27 percent of Brazil’s landed cost into China during the third quarter.
Year to year, U.S. landed costs declined while Brazil’s rose, reinforcing a shifting competitive balance. However, Brazil is still projected to dominate global exports in 2025/26, while U.S. shipments to China remain sharply lower.
Farm-Level Takeaw
ay: Freight volatility and route selection remain critical to soybean export margins and competitiveness.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
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