Briefing Paper on the Demand for U.S. Commodity Exports and the Mississippi River: Past and Future

Abstract

As part of the decision in evaluating the lock and dam upgrade on the Mississippi River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has contracted with various agricultural forecasting companies (most recently Sparks Companies, Inc.) to produce long range projections of agricultural exports and the implied demand for Mississippi River transportation services. The future demand for barge transportation services is a key component in evaluating the value of lock and dam upgrades. In this context, it is important to understand the volume of U.S. exports that utilize the river versus other modes of transportation.