CHS Inc. to operate COFCO grain terminal in Illinois under lease agreement
Operating the terminal under a lease gives CHS control over throughput and logistics without adding the facility to its balance sheet.
USA – CHS Inc. will assume operations of COFCO International Ltd.’s grain terminal in Cahokia, Illinois, from January 31 under a lease agreement, to allow the US farmer-owned cooperative to expand its logistics reach while avoiding ownership of the asset.
The move strengthens CHS’s Midwest-to-Gulf grain corridor. It also provides additional operational flexibility at a time when efficiency in inland logistics remains a priority for US grain handlers.
The Cahokia facility is located on the Mississippi River with year-round access to the St. Louis Harbor. It also has direct connections to all six of North America’s Class I railroads.
The terminal is built for high-throughput handling. It includes more than seven miles of private on-site rail track and can accommodate four-unit trains of 110 cars each at the same time. This setup supports fast rail, truck, and barge transloading of grain and grain byproducts.
“We’re focused on strengthening the cooperative system’s capabilities in this important region connected by barge, truck and rail,” said John Griffith, CHS executive vice president for ag business and CHS Hedging.
He added that the expansion deepens CHS’s connections with local growers, supports the US Center Gulf export strategy and provides owners with competitive market access.
Operating the terminal under a lease gives CHS control over throughput and logistics without adding the facility to its balance sheet.
The approach reflects a broader industry shift toward securing access to infrastructure rather than pursuing capital-intensive acquisitions.
The Mississippi River system remains central to US bulk grain exports. As a result, access to efficient inland terminals is increasingly viewed as critical to maintaining competitiveness in global markets.
The Cahokia terminal will be integrated into CHS’s existing footprint across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In this region, the cooperative operates about 20 grain and agronomy locations serving local farmers and commercial customers.
Grain handled at Cahokia will complement flows to downstream export assets. These include the CHS export terminal at Myrtle Grove, Louisiana, which serves as a key gateway for shipments to international markets.
“Adding this facility strengthens our already robust grain network and enhances our ability to serve our owners, domestic buyers and international markets through the CHS export terminal in Myrtle Grove, Louisiana,” Griffith said.
CHS is the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States. It operates diversified businesses across agronomy, grains, foods, and energy.
In fiscal year 2025, CHS reported revenues of US$35.5 billion. The cooperative operates 255 grain storage facilities with licensed capacity of 410 million bushels.
It ranks as the second-largest grain handling company in North America, according to Sosland Publishing Co.’s 2026 Grain & Milling Annual.
COFCO International, the terminal’s owner, is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is part of COFCO Fortune, the core agriculture and food business unit of China-based COFCO Group.
COFCO International employs 12,399 people across 36 countries and reported revenues of US$38.5 billion.
Leasing the Cahokia terminal allows COFCO to retain ownership while relying on CHS’s domestic origination and logistics capabilities.
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