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Port of Houston expansion could enhance market access for U.S. soybeans

The chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition says new investments into the Port of Houston could help expand market access for soybean farmers.

Indiana farmer Mike Koehne says the facility improvements will increase its export capacity for soybean meal.

“Instead of going down the Mississippi or going to the East Coast or the West Coast, we can actually take this meal and go out the Gulf,” he says. “This gives us another opportunity to hit other markets.”

He tells Brownfield the improvements could also create additional transportation options for U.S. soy products.

“Not every port is set up to handle meal,” he says. “With the meal market expected to expand, we need have the versatility of getting rid of that meal as it comes online.”

Koehne says the expansion is expected to be complete in 2026 and will support more than 2 million metric tons of grain exports annually.

Soybean farmer leaders from across the country recently visited the Port of Houston to present a ceremonial check of $275,000 to The Andersons, Inc. for the project.

AUDIO: Mike Koehne