Kentucky

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Kentucky transports $10.5 billion worth of freight along 943 miles of inland waterways each year. That amounts to more than 102 million tons of commodities shipped to, from, within the state. Kentucky docks ship commodities by barge to 17 states and receives commodities from 15 states, making the state’s waterways a significant source of regional economic growth.

Kentucky 2004 Waterborne Commerce To, from and within the State

(values in millions of dollars)
Commodity Shipped Received Within Total Value
Coal 28,965,578 13,863,196 8,856,879 51,685,653 $$1,975
Petroleum 1,863,038 6,048,802 186,309 8,098,149 $1,323
Crude Petroleum 0 ** 0 ** **
Aggregates 16,589,447 2,532,146 6,374,799 25,496,392 $1,322
Grain 2,524,909 206,352 68,516 2,799,777 $505
Chemicals 503,255 2,212,204 25,384 2,740,843 $1,481
Ores/Minerals 122,683 1,715,718 0 1,838,401 $170
Iron/Steel 1,608,657 4,039,904 ** 5,648,561 $2,712
Other 2,831,536 1,243,562 329,401 4,404,499 $1,045
TOTAL 55,009,103 31,861,884 15,841,288 102,712,275 $10,533

** Insufficient barge operators to release this tonnage – included in “Other Commodities”

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterborne Commerce Statistics

Shipments on Ohio River Basin Waterways Only

Kentucky 2004 Commodities Shipped by Barge to and from Other States

(values in millions of dollars)

Shipments To Tons Value Top Commodity Shipments From Tons Value Top Commodity
Tennessee 14,351,449 $820 Coal W. Virginia 11,203,177 $660 Coal
Ohio 13,073,032 $730 Coal Louisiana 7,691,173 $1,417 Iron/Steel
Louisana 9,049,043 $1,601 Aggregates Illinois 4,541,033 $412 Coal
Alabama 4,607,843 $357 Coal Indiana 2,886,087 $233 Aggregates
W. Virginia 3,848,562 $233 Aggregates Ohio 1,703,068 $112 Coal

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterborne Commerce Statistics

Shipments on Ohio River Basin waterways only