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

Pilbara production record as Rio Tinto releases Q2 results

Rio Tinto has driven performance to achieve 3% YoY CuEq1 growth in the first half of 2026.Chief Executive... Read more

Record iron ore production helps strengthen BHP growth pipeline

BHP have released its Operational Review for the year ended 30 June 2026.Chief Executive Officer, Brandon... Read more

Stranded sulphur cargoes in Gulf face mounting corrosion risk, warns Brookes Bell

Bulk carriers carrying elemental sulphur cargoes in the Strait of Hormuz are at significant risk of... Read more

BHP and Faraday Copper sign definitive San Manuel agreement

Further to BHP’s announcement in February, BHP, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has executed... Read more

Urea price dive hits Australian grain suppliers

Australia’s Federal Government's fertiliser support package has come under scrutiny as global... Read more

SSAB pauses work at construction site in Luleå

SSAB has once again paused work at the construction site for its new steel mill in Luleå, Sweden... Read more

Trafigura issues USD500 million senior bond

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. has announced the issuance of a USD500 million senior Reg S bond with a five... Read more

NGFA welcomes Senate Farm Bill proposal

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in the USA has welcomed the release of Senate Agriculture... Read more

Agreement paves way to deliver 2.7 million tonnes of additional copper production

Anglo American plc, through its 50.1%-owned subsidiary, Anglo American Sur S.A., and Codelco, have announced... Read more

SSAB and partners launch closed loop steel recycling initiative in US

SSAB Americas, The Greenbrier Companies and Alter Trading are partnering on a circular economy project... Read more