CHS expands grain export capacity with Myrtle Grove terminal upgrades

CHS has completed a major expansion and renovation of its grain export terminal in Myrtle Grove, Louisiana, aimed at strengthening its supply chain and increasing global grain exports. The facility, located approximately 25 miles south of New Orleans, now has the capacity to move 30% more grain, including corn, soybeans, and wheat, with improved speed and efficiency.

The upgrade is part of CHS’s broader effort to enhance its logistics network, which handles more than 2 billion bushels annually via river, rail, and terminal systems. John Griffith, executive vice president of CHS’s agriculture business, said the improvements will increase export precision and throughput, benefiting both U.S. farmers and international buyers.

“The strategic location of the Myrtle Grove facility will help CHS export more grain with increased precision, supporting volume growth to benefit the entire supply chain — from farmers’ fields to global markets,” Griffith said.

Enhancements at the terminal include the construction of six new concrete silos to boost storage capacity and flexibility in handling multiple commodities. A new bulk weighing and grading system, capable of managing three separate grain flows, has also been installed.

Other additions include a new dock and barge unloading system and the installation of the first permanent electric-powered E-Crane in the United States dedicated exclusively to grain exports. The E-Crane is expected to reduce energy costs and improve loading efficiencies compared with traditional diesel-powered cranes.

The expanded facility also improves CHS’s ability to load oceangoing vessels with a wider variety of agricultural products, including soybean meal and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The company says this added versatility will help it attract and serve new export markets.

Myrtle Grove’s location provides logistical advantages, such as reduced travel time for vessels heading upriver and lower congestion compared with other Mississippi River terminals. These factors are expected to help streamline export flows amid growing global demand for U.S. agricultural commodities.

The renovation at Myrtle Grove complements CHS’s other infrastructure investments, including plans to double capacity at its Warren, Minnesota, facility, as part of its broader global strategy.