Port of New Orleans, LA rail freight: what lands here and where it goes inland

The largest vessel imports here, year to date through July 2026, are mineral fuels (about $3,425 million), fertilizer (about $1,854 million), iron and steel (about $1,838 million) among the 22 commodity chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks. The port district is reached by BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, CN, CPKC, Norfolk Southern and CSX, which is what makes the New Orleans gateway useful for shippers whose plants sit hundreds of miles inland. Six Class Is via NOPB; river bulk terminals up to Baton Rouge. This page pairs the Census import data behind the Commodity Flow Map port layer with the railroads, transload capacity and inland lanes that turn a vessel arrival into a rail move.

Top imports by vessel

Vessel imports at New Orleans, LA, year to date through July 2026, US$ millions, for the commodity chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks.

Railroads at the port

• BNSF Railway (BNSF)
• Union Pacific (UP)
• CN
• CPKC
• Norfolk Southern (NS)
• CSX

Where more than one Class I reaches a port, the routing choice sets the inland rate, the interchange points and which inland terminals are single-line. That is the first question a lane audit answers.

Rail transload and terminal capacity nearby

Rail-served transload facilities within 30 miles of the port, from the Steel Wheel Transload Directory:

• Port of New Orleans — Breakbulk Terminals & Transit Sheds — New Orleans, LA (1 mi): port-terminal; breakbulk, warehousing, vessel-rail transload
• QSL New Orleans — New Orleans, LA (2 mi): port-terminal; breakbulk, dry bulk, vessel-rail transload
• Coastal Cargo Company — Louisiana Avenue Complex — New Orleans, LA (3 mi): port-terminal; breakbulk, vessel-rail transload, warehousing
• Access World New Orleans — New Orleans, LA (3 mi): port-terminal; warehousing, breakbulk, vessel-rail transload
• CN Cargoflo (Kearney Companies) — New Orleans, LA (4 mi): third-party-warehouse; Air Compressor, Bulk Conveyor, Portable Vacuum, Sampling Services
• Associated Terminals — St. Bernard Port — Arabi, LA (5 mi): port-terminal; dry bulk, breakbulk, vessel-rail transload
• Associated Terminals New Orleans Bulk Terminal — New Orleans, LA (11 mi): port-terminal; dry bulk, vessel-rail transload
• Transflo CSXT — New Orleans, LA (0 mi): Air Compressor, Blower, Bulk Conveyor, Liquid Pumps

Distances are straight-line from the port's Census coordinates. Capabilities are as listed by the operator; confirm before routing.

Typical inland lanes from this port

How the top import groups typically move inland from New Orleans. These describe the flow, not a price: run the indicative rail rate from New Orleans for a first number.

• Imported crude, refined products and petroleum coke move in tank cars and hoppers to refineries, blending terminals, cement kilns and power plants inland. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.
• Imported urea, DAP, MAP and potash rails in covered hoppers to inland fertilizer warehouses across the Corn Belt, the Plains and the Mississippi Delta ahead of each planting season. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.
• Imported steel slab, coil and plate moves inland to mills, pipe makers and service centers in the Ohio Valley, Texas, the Southeast and the Upper Midwest. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.
• Imported green coffee and tea move in boxcars to roasters and distribution centers in the Midwest, Northeast and Texas. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.
• Imported aluminum ingot, billet and coil moves in gondolas and boxcars to extruders, rolling mills and automotive suppliers in the Midwest, Southeast and Texas. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.
• Imported alcohols, solvents and chemical intermediates move in tank cars to chemical, pharmaceutical and coatings plants along the Gulf Coast, the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Indicative rail rate from New Orleans.

Priced lanes from New Orleans

Indicative single-car estimates from our rate model for lanes we have already priced out of this port. Not a quote; the serving railroad confirms the rate.

Common questions

Which railroads serve the Port of New Orleans?

BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, CN, CPKC, Norfolk Southern and CSX reach the New Orleans, LA port district. Six Class Is via NOPB; river bulk terminals up to Baton Rouge.

What does the Port of New Orleans import the most?

By vessel value, year to date through July 2026, the largest imports at New Orleans among the chapters Steel Wheel Logistics tracks are mineral fuels (about $3,425 million), fertilizer (about $1,854 million), iron and steel (about $1,838 million). Total tracked vessel imports were about $10,440 million. Source: U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API.

Can I move imported mineral fuels from New Orleans inland by rail?

The largest tracked vessel import group at New Orleans is mineral fuels (about $3,425 million year to date through July 2026), and the port district is reached by BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, CN, CPKC, Norfolk Southern and CSX. The Steel Wheel transload directory lists at least 8 rail-served transload facilities within 30 miles of the port. Use the indicative rail rate tool for a first estimate and a lane audit to confirm routing; estimates are indicative until confirmed with the serving railroad.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API, general imports by port of entry, vessel value, year to date through July 2026. Steel Wheel Logistics analysis.