Governor Holcomb joins Indiana container conference to discuss growing container ports and agricultural exports

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb kicked off the first-ever Indiana Container Shipping Conference and Intermodal Rail Tour on June 17 as business, agriculture and transportation leaders discussed ways to develop new container ports, grow agriculture exports and expand global trade. 

Container shipping capacity has been identified as a key objective to support Indiana’s economic and agricultural growth, which led to the creation of this event hosted by Ports of Indiana, Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC). 

“I commend Indiana’s statewide agricultural sector and port leaders for convening this important discussion about growing Indiana’s global trade by expanding our international container shipping opportunities,” Gov. Holcomb said. 

“Our state has a proud ag-based heritage and an equally exciting future, led by specialized soybeans, corn and hardwood products that are coveted throughout world markets. Leveraging all our port, rail and transportation resources to expand our container shipping connections will strengthen our economy and create even more opportunities for Hoosier farmers, businesses and families.” 

The conference included a tour of Indiana Rail Road’s Senate Avenue Intermodal Yard and speakers from International Feed, S&P Global, POET, Pence Group, Cole Hardwood, Cargo Services, Indiana Rail Road, ISA, ICMC and Ports of Indiana. 

Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana’s economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system, and by serving as a statewide resource for maritime issues, international trade and multimodal logistics. Learn more at www.portsofindiana.com 

“Improving our infrastructure to support local container terminals can provide Hoosier farmers with access to overseas customers,” said ISA and ICMC CEO Courtney Kingery. “Indiana corn and soybean farmers produce premium, value-added products but often lack easy access to international container facilities that offer efficient shipments of identity-preserved commodities to world markets.” 

Shipping containers 

The development of shipping containers with standard dimensions supports efficient transport of a variety of goods in truck-sized containers. Standard containers are generally 8-feet wide, 8.5-feet tall and 20 or 40-feet long, with larger sizes available. Global standardization allows ocean vessels to stack and carry more than 20,000 containers per voyage to multiple countries around the world. 

For Hoosier farmers, as an example, a container could be loaded locally with Indiana soybeans, get moved by truck to an intermodal railroad yard where it is loaded and carried to a seaport for overseas delivery. Through Ports of Indiana, local products have access to overseas shipping with two ports along the Ohio River, at Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville, and another port in Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan. Indiana has fewer container terminals than neighboring states. 

Ports of Indiana is hoping to lead the development of new container terminals at its three ports, which already provide access to foreign markets for bulk and breakbulk cargoes. Indiana ports generate $8.7 billion per year in economic impact for the state and support 50,000 jobs. Ports of Indiana is undergoing a $100 million capital campaign that includes eight federal grants, five docks, three railyards, two cargo storage facilities, extensive cargo handling equipment and decarbonization planning. 

“Container shipping represents a major new venture for Indiana’s ports,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “We don’t handle containers today due to regulatory and market challenges, but containers represent the highest-valued and fastest-growing cargo for ports around the world. By working with our state agriculture partners and many others, we hope to develop new container facilities that will allow Indiana to better connect with the global economy.” 

In early June, the Ports of Indiana Commission approved a plan to launch “The Indiana Container Initiative” to develop multiple international container terminals. This initiative is designed to increase the organization’s efforts to pursue the development of international container facilities within Indiana’s ports and other locations throughout the state. 

Expanding export opportunities 

As it stands, the volume of corn, soybeans or farm commodities – as well as other raw commodities – that leave Indiana in containers is relatively small, said Ed Ebert, Senior Director for Market Development for ISA and ICMC. However, with the correct infrastructure in place, he believes Indiana could tap into already existing shipping routes. 

“Shipping from Asia and China can play a significant role,” Ebert said. “China is a key player in the global container network. Containers with consumer goods leave major ports in China as well as Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia destined for the largest consumer goods market in the world – the United States. When these containers are offloaded and emptied, they can ideally be loaded with U.S. soybeans to get hauled back to China and Asia.” 

Kingery recently traveled to meet many overseas buyers and has identified the most desired agricultural products that Hoosier farmers produce, including specialty soybeans such as high oleic, non-genetically modified or food grade soybeans; specialty corn such as non-genetically modified or waxy corn; soybean and corn co-products such as distillers’ dried grain or ethanol; meat and poultry, such as eggs, turkey, duck and pork; and Indiana hardwoods. 

“Ports of Indiana along with ISA and ICMC seek to expand the sale of specialty agricultural products exported in containers from Indiana to global markets,” Kingery said. “Stakeholders and potential supporters are gathering to explore funding opportunities and areas of cooperation to expand Indiana’s value-added commodity exports. The market potential of shipping to global customers could be up to 11,600 containers of $165 million in product value between soybean and corn commodities and co-products annually.” 

Many agriculture and shipping stakeholders participated the meeting including: the Indiana Corn Growers Association, Cole Hardwood, POET, The Indiana Rail Road, Pence Group, S&P Global, the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the Agribusiness Council of Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., Indiana Farm Bureau, The DeLong Co., Inc., International Feed Worldwide, CSI, Bose Public Affairs Group, Louisville and Indiana Railroad, Barnes and Thornburg LLP, IN Ag LLC, CSX, and Spliethoff. 

About Indiana Soybean Alliance: The Indiana Soybean Alliance works to enhance the viability of Indiana soybean farmers through the effective and efficient investment of soybean checkoff funds that protect and promote the interest of Indiana soybean farmers. The ISA works to assist soybean farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. ISA is led by an elected farmer board that directs investments of the soybean checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana soybean farmers. Learn more at www.incornandsoy.org

About Indiana Corn Marketing Council: The Indiana Corn Marketing Council was established by the Indiana General Assembly to promote the interests of corn growers in the state and to manage corn checkoff funds. The Council is composed of 17 voting directors who guide investments of corn checkoff funds on behalf of more than 20,000 Indiana corn farmers. The ICMC works to assist corn farmers through its strategic initiatives of market development; environmental, social and economic sustainability; value creation and producer engagement. Learn more at www.incornandsoy.org

About Ports of Indiana: Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana’s economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system, and by serving as a statewide resource for maritime issues, international trade, and multimodal logistics. Learn more at www.portsofindiana.com

This communication was funded with Indiana corn and soybean checkoff dollars.