MPC
Project Details
Title: | Containerized Grain & Oilseed Exporters: Industry Profile and Survey |
Principal Investigators: | Kimberly Vachal |
University: | North Dakota State University |
Status: | Completed |
Year: | 2000 |
Project #: | MPC-203 |
Abstract
Competitive access to an array of agricultural markets is critical to agricultural shippers and rural economies in the Midwest. One sector that has gained notoriety in recent years is that sector marketing its grain & oilseed products via container. It seems that technological advancements in shipping, grain production, grain handling, communications, sophistication of buyer expectations, and grain producer business developments may lend themselves to continued development of this sector. It has been estimated that currently, less than 1% of the U.S. grain and oilseed production is market via container. A recent survey of grain industry experts suggests that this volume could increase by more than 300% over the next five years.
Limited, and rather disjointed, information exists for profiling the industry or identifying trends required for regional and national logistical planning. Information ascertained through this survey would be valuable in addressing logistical planning, distributing resources for economic development, addressing regulatory issues, planning infrastructure investment, and other facets associated with this sector of the grain transportation industry.
Project Deliverables