Weekly Downbound Grain Barge Rates January 2022 to November 2023

Mississippi River Lock 27 (located in Granite City, Illinois, just north of St. Louis) is the final lock on the Upper Mississippi. It serves as the definitive gateway for grain produced in the Midwest heading downbound to the Gulf of Mexico for international export.

Between 2021 and 2023, grain tonnage at Lock 27 was heavily influenced by historic low water levels and drought conditions, which forced barge operators to reduce 'drafts' (how deep a barge sits in the water) and tow sizes.