Industrial tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River by means of November is up 2.7%, with outbound and inner shipments driving the expansion, in line with figures from the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

November tonnage of 957,397 tons was primarily flat in contrast with 956,259 in November 2021.

Inbound shipments – these coming from off the river system – totaled 3.163 million tons through the first 11 months, down 13.2% in contrast with the identical interval in 2021. Outbound shipments totaled 3.616 million tons, up 17.3% in contrast with the identical interval in 2021. Inside shipments – these despatched between port operations on the river – totaled 3.344 million tons, up 7% in contrast with the identical interval in 2021.

Marty Shell, president of Van Buren-based 5 Rivers Distribution and a member of the Arkansas Waterways Fee, mentioned 2022 has been a superb yr, however just isn’t positive that may proceed in 2023.

“2022 was a powerful regular yr for each the Port of Fort Smith and Port of Van Buren. I’m afraid that the inflationary instances are catching up with us. I’m seeing prospects utilizing up the stock they’ve and are gradual to react to 2023 tonnage commitments because of rates of interest and the unknown. I’d predict the primary half of 2023 can be gradual to common and hopefully a stronger second half in 2023,” mentioned Shell, who has a Van Buren port facility and operates the port of Fort Smith.

Bryan Day, govt director of the Port of Little Rock, mentioned port operations there are down due to low water ranges on the Mississippi River.

“November’s exercise throughout the Port of Little Rock’s decreased because of low water on the Mississippi that impacted the power to obtain barges for a few two-week span. The rains have come and we at the moment are catching up on these barges in questions,” he mentioned.

Day mentioned the port year-to-date has dealt with 385 barges, carrying greater than 577,000 tons, which is up 22%.

Following are the highest 5 cargo classes by tonnage for the primary 11 months of 2022, with the share change from the identical interval in 2021.
• Sand, gravel, rock: 3.68 million tons (up 6%)
• Chemical fertilizer: 1.877 million tons (down 4%)
• Iron & metal: 1.084 million tons (up 13%)
• Wheat: 906,400 tons (down 8.5%)
• Soybeans: 756,450 tons (down 4.5%)

Tonnage in 2021 totaled 10.696 million tons, up 4% in contrast with 2020. Inbound tonnage was up 12%, outbound was down 8% and inner was up 8%. River site visitors in recent times has struggled by means of historic flooding and an financial slowdown induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. River tonnage in 2019 totaled simply 8.48 million tons, down 22% from 2018. However tonnage was up 22% in 2020 to 10.322 million tons

The Arkansas River system is 445 miles lengthy and stretches from the confluence of the Mississippi River to the Port of Catoosa close to Tulsa, Okla. The managed waterway has 18 locks and dams, with 13 in Arkansas and 5 in Oklahoma. The river additionally has 5 industrial ports: Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Muskogee, Okla., and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma.