Polaris Analytics and Consulting

12/30/2025

🌊 Big River News! 🌊

The Big River Coalition just released a game-changing study on the Mississippi River Ship Channel—our nation's vital trade artery!

Did you know?
⚓$226.5 BILLION in annual trade (that's over $620 million a day!)
⚓Moves more cargo than any other U.S. waterway—nearly double the next waterway!
⚓But closures or draft restrictions could cost millions in lost jobs and higher prices.

"This report shows why we must protect and invest in the MRSC," says Sean Duffy, BRC Executive Director.

funded this important work! "It highlights opportunities for growth and resilience," says Julia Fisher-Cormier, Deputy Director.

Check out the full report & summary here: https://pacanalytic.com/mrsc

What does the Mighty Mississippi River mean to your community or business? Share below! 👇

12/22/2025

My new Horizons column is out in High Plains Journal! 🌾 "Glut of grain dominates crop story."

Key takeaways from the 2025-26 crop year:
✅Record U.S. production: 23.6 billion bushels (+8%), corn up 12% to 16.7B bu 🌽
✅Strong domestic demand from biofuels (ethanol & renewable diesel) and feed 🚀
✅Exports near record ~6B bu, but global surplus and competition keep prices soft 📉
✅Margins tightening with higher costs—farmers, time to lean on risk management tools!

⁉High Plains growers, your resilience is inspiring. What's your outlook for 2026 planting?

Full article here: https://hpj.com/2025/12/19/glut-of-grain-dominates-crop-story/

Tag a fellow farmer or share your thoughts below! 👇

12/22/2025

📣Just published in The Waterways Journal: My new column exploring America's incredible towboat fleet! 🚢

⁉️Did you know there are over 3,750 towboats keeping freight moving on the Mississippi River System? They're diverse in size, age (average 36 years—oldest from 1926!), and power, pushing everything from tiny harbor shifts to massive 56-barge tows that haul more than a Panamax ship.

These unsung heroes power U.S. trade on the Mississippi and beyond. Check out the full story and some fascinating stats on operators like Kirby and Ingram.

Link: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2025/12/19/taking-a-look-at-americas-diverse-towboat-fleet/

What’s your favorite fact about river transport? Share below! 🌊⚓



Analytics and Consulting

https://pacanalytic.com

11/24/2025

📣My latest 🧭Horizons column just dropped in Great Lakes Seaway Review⛴️!

⚓️The locks close soon for the season, but the real chill💨this winter is coming from 🇺🇸 Washington & 🇨🇦 Ottawa:
🔸record-long government shutdown,
🔸sky-high tariffs, and
🔸trade talks on ice.

Grain exports are hanging in there, but everyone’s holding their breath for 2026. Will there be a policy thaw❄️☀️?

Read it here ➡️ https://seawayreview.com/digital-editions/?BookCode=20251101&PageLabel=38&Sgt=11&Lang=enu



Polaris Analytics and Consulting

11/24/2025

❄️ Seaway 🚢 season is winding down… but the real freeze is in trade policy. 🥶
🔸Record 43-day U.S. shutdown
🔸Tariffs at 1930s levels
🔸Grain exports down 23%
🔸U.S.-Canada talks on ice ❄

Yet there’s hope for sectoral deals in 2026.

Full column in https://seawayreview.com/digital-editions/?BookCode=20251101&PageLabel=38&Sgt=11&Lang=enu

11/15/2025

A business journey awaits—unlock insights that can transform your operations and drive growth. Elevate your strategy by visiting our website now at pacanalytic.com.

06/17/2025

The Waterways Journal is excited to announce📣 that the 🔱2025 IRR Barge Fleet Profile and IRR Commodities Report are now available! The reports were prepared and compiled by Polaris Analytics and Consulting.

These reports offer in-depth data 📊on barge fleet size, age, and commodity movements, providing essential insights for operators, owners, financers, and policymakers in the inland waterways industry.

Order your copies today at https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2025/06/13/irr-commodities-report-and-barge-fleet-profile-now-available/ and stay ahead of the curve!

The Waterways Journal is pleased to announce that the IRR Commodities Report and IRR Barge Fleet Profile are both available for order by phone and online.

10/28/2024

In my latest column for The Waterways Journal, I delve into the recurring issue of low water levels on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. This year, we are once again facing historically low levels, impacting barge freight rates and the movement of grain and soybeans.

Key points:
Record Low Water Levels: For the third consecutive year, water levels are flirting with new record lows.

Freight Rates: Despite low water, barge freight rates have been higher, but remaining relatively stable due to industry adaptations.

Communication: Effective communication among industry stakeholders is crucial to maintaining river traffic flow.

Future Concerns: Without significant rainfall, we may see further challenges in navigation and freight rates.

Read more about the strategies and impacts in my full column: https://lnkd.in/e64Zuj8v or https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2024/10/25/horizons-low-water-equals-rising-freight-rates/

Polaris Analytics and Consulting https://pacanalytic.com

It happens every year like clockwork. Autumn follows summer, water levels on the Mississippi River and its tributaries fall, and barge freight rates rise as grain and soybean movements pick up. Of late, though, water levels aren’t just dropping each autumn. Instead, seemingly every year they are s...

10/07/2024

I look forward to speaking at U.S. Grains Council Export Exchange tomorrow on "Requirements of the Agriculture Supply Chain and Transportation Amidst Global Upheaval."

allows overseas attendees the opportunity to build relationships with U.S. suppliers of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn, sorghum, barley and other commodities, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in grain sales.

It will be a great week in Fort Worth!



https://grains.org/exportexchange/
Polaris Analytics and Consulting
https://pacanalytic.com/

09/28/2024

Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance thank for inviting me to speak at the 2025 Identity Preserved International Summit. 🤝

I look forward to being part of the program, digging into and discussing the economic picture of North and Southeast Asia. 🗺️ It is an important region for specialty soya and grains. 🌾

https://soyagrainsalliance.org/international-ip-summit/



Polaris Analytics and Consulting
www.pacanalytic.com

The Identity Preserved International Summit will bring new experiences and opportunities to all participants January 11-13, 2023 in Honolulu Hawaii.

05/29/2024

I look forward to returning to (Inland Marine Expo, https://inlandmarineexpo.com/) in Nashville, TN this week, May 29-31.

Please visit me at The Waterways Journal booth 1133 on Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. I look forward to meeting you, talking about the , , , , , , , and much more, perhaps any fans?!!

Also, join me at the State of the Industry Outlook Discussion on Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. together with Susan Olson, Ph.D. with ActionIntel.