Corn Belt Ports See Notable Freight Tonnage Growth in 2026

In the most recent annual report released by the U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, two Corn Belt Ports regions took top honors for showing some of the highest growth rates in the inland waterway port system.

The Mid-America Port Commission (IL, MO, IA), established in 1999, was ranked as the 40th largest port in the U.S., and saw a 15.2% growth in freight tonnage during the 2024 reporting year (published 2026). This is the highest growth rate for any large (Top 50) U.S. Inland Port.

The Illinois Waterway Ports Commission established in 2023, and now reported as a port statistical area in the report, saw a 5.9% increase in freight tonnage, the largest increase of any port statistical area in the U.S.

In the report the Upper Mississippi River (Marine Highway 35) saw a 4.2% increase, and the Illinois River (Marine Highway 55 NORTH) saw a 1.2% increase in freight tonnage overall.

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