Shipping costs for US corn and soybeans to Japan surge

Transportation costs for US corn and soybeans shipped to Japan increased significantly in the second quarter of 2026 due to higher ocean freight rates and domestic logistics costs. According to USDA, transportation costs for both commodities via the US Gulf route rose 33% year-on-year.

The main driver was a 49% increase in ocean freight rates. Barge rates also rose by 28%, while truck rates increased by 4%. Growth was more moderate on the Pacific Northwest route, where transportation costs increased by 14% for corn and 13% for soybeans.

The increase was particularly significant for corn shipped through the US Gulf. Transportation now accounts for 46% of the total landed cost in Japan, up from 37% a year earlier. The total landed cost of corn reached $294.57/t, nearly 7% higher year-on-year, despite an 8.64% decline in farm values.

For soybeans, the total landed cost via the US Gulf increased by almost 15% to $536.73/t. In this case, the increase was driven not only by higher transportation expenses but also by an almost 10% rise in soybean farm values. Transportation accounted for around 25% of the final landed cost.

Higher logistics costs coincided with declining US corn shipments to Japan. In the second quarter, the US exported 3.6 mln tons of corn to Japan, down 15% year-on-year. Soybean shipments totaled 0.5 mln tons and, in contrast, increased by 4% from a year earlier.

Tags: logistics, Japan, corn, soybean, USA