Arkansas River Shipping Summary (January – August 2026)
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Overall Tonnage:
- Total Tonnage: 7.066 million tons (up 7.5% from 6.57 million in 2025).
- August Shipment: 801,620 tons (down 2.4% from 821,235 tons in August 2025).
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Internal vs. External Shipments:
- Internal Shipments: 2.65 million tons (up 60.4% from 2025).
- Inbound Shipments: 2.286 million tons (down 9.5% from 2025).
- Outbound Shipments: 2.129 million tons (down 11% from 2025).
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Key Product Categories:
- Sand, Gravel, Rock: 2.812 million tons (up 33%).
- Chemical Fertilizer: 1.153 million tons (down 12%).
- Iron and Steel: 708,260 tons (down 3%).
- Minerals and Building Materials: 574,800 tons (up 5%).
- Soybeans: 449,772 tons (up 6%).
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Challenges: Higher energy costs and fuel prices impacting the industry.
Historical Context
- 2025 Tonnage: 10.011 million tons (down 19.5% from 12.446 million in 2024).
- Recent Years’ Tonnage:
- 2025: 10.011 million
- 2024: 12.446 million
- 2023: 12.206 million
- 2022: 11.011 million
- 2021: 10.696 million
- 2020: 10.322 million
- 2019: 8.48 million
- 2018: 10.932 million
- 2017: 11.918 million
- 2016: 11.542 million
Navigation System Overview
- The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) is 445 miles long, featuring 18 locks and dams. Major commercial ports include:
- Pine Bluff
- Little Rock
- Fort Smith
- Muskogee, OK
- Tulsa Port of Catoosa, OK
Future Prospects
- Plans for expanding warehouse space in Q4 of 2026 and into 2027, amidst ongoing challenges with energy costs and tariffs.
