NGFA selects essDOCS barge trade solution
(Posted on 14/01/20)
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in the USA has announced a partnership with essDOCS, a company that enables paperless trade, to implement a project that will digitize barge trading documents, such as bills of lading, so that they may be transmitted electronically – a huge cost savings to the industry.
The industry group directing and funding this project includes representatives from NGFA and the following member companies: Bunge North America, Inc.; Cargill, Inc.; Archer Daniels Midland Company; CGB Enterprises, Inc.; CHS Inc.; The Gavilon Group; Louis Dreyfus Company; Zen-Noh Grain Corporation; American Commercial Barge Line; and Ingram Marine Group.
Following a rigorous search process, the NGFA group tasked with forming a new digital barge documentation process selected essDOCS’ CargoDocs solution to form the backbone of a nationwide digital barge document platform for counterparty trades. The NGFA eBarge solution will digitize the 70,000 to 100,000 negotiable barge bills of lading that NGFA members handle each year.
NGFA’s more than 1,000 member companies are responsible for merchandising more than 75 percent of U.S. grains and oilseeds produced annually for domestic and export markets. NGFA members’ annual domestic barge trades involve cargoes carried by approximately 17,000 barges, managed by 15 to 20 barge lines and traded between 30 to 40 companies. These shipments flow from 150 origins to around 40 destinations nationally.
The industry-driven solution will be based on a customized version of essDOCS’ CargoDocs DocEx platform, which will digitize the administration of the barge trade. The system will digitally handle the trade string and documentation process to increase speed, efficiency, and visibility without altering the way the trades take place.
Charlie Delacruz, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at NGFA, said: “From its inception, this has been an exciting and rewarding project with enormous potential benefit for the industry. NGFA is proud to be a part of this industry-driven project. essDOCS was selected by the industry group from a field of strong candidates for multiple reasons including essDOCS’ reputation, experience in the industry, and that its proposal stood out as the best fit while being the most cost-effective.”
Alexander Goulandris, co-CEO of essDOCS, added: “This type of ambitious market-wide project is becoming the norm even in logistics and trade, as digitalization is now widely acknowledged as a key factor in the success of companies globally. We are delighted to partner with the NGFA member group and aim to deliver massive digitization of this market in just a few short months.”
NGFA, established in 1896, consists of more than 1,000 grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 7,000 facilities and handle more than 70 percent of all U.S. grains and oilseeds.
Latest News
NGFA applauds reintroduction of HAULS Act
(Posted on 24/12/25)The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has applauded Senator Deb. Fischer’s (R-Neb.) reintroduction... Read more
Anglo American and Teck receive approval for merger of equals
(Posted on 18/12/25)Anglo American plc and Teck Resources Limited have received regulatory approval from the Government... Read more
Rhodes Ridge $191m feasibility study on Pilbara iron ore mine
(Posted on 18/12/25)The Rhodes Ridge Joint Venture has approved a $191 million (A$294 million) (Rio Tinto share $96 million... Read more
Strong metals trading as Trafigura publishes annual results
(Posted on 09/12/25)Trafigura Group Pte Ltd, a global leader in the commodities industry, has announced its financial results... Read more
Rio Tinto’s Nuton technology produces first copper
(Posted on 09/12/25)Rio Tinto has successfully produced the first copper from the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona using its... Read more
US soy and Uzbekistan sign MoU to expand trade
(Posted on 02/12/25)The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health programme and the... Read more
KNAC and Rio Tinto sign updated agreement
(Posted on 02/12/25)Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation (KNAC) Registered Native Title Body Corporate and Rio Tinto... Read more
OCI Global announces sale of OCI Ammonia Holding to AGROFERT
(Posted on 02/12/25)OCI Global, a leading global producer and distributor of nitrogen products has announced that it has... Read more
Court of Appeal confirms permit for new steel plant in Luleå
(Posted on 24/11/25)In December 2024, SSAB was granted a permit by the Land and Environment Court at Umeå District... Read more
Simandou partners celebrate start of operations
(Posted on 15/11/25)The President of the Republic of Guinea has joined project partners WCS1, Baowu, Chinalco and Rio Tinto... Read more
