Superior Ag opens new US$20M fertilizer river terminal
The facility features modern unloading, storage and handling capabilities designed to improve operational efficiency while increasing fertilizer availability during critical application windows.
USA – Superior Ag, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative, has officially opened its new US$20 million dry fertilizer terminal along the Ohio River in Rockport, Indiana, marking the completion of a project aimed at strengthening fertilizer supply and pricing stability for growers across the region.
Marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house, the strategic investment expands the cooperative’s crop nutrient distribution footprint.
The 32,000-ton facility in southern Spencer County is designed to streamline logistics, increase regional fertilizer storage, and reinforce supply chain reliability for agricultural producers operating across southwestern Indiana, northern and central Kentucky, and bordering areas in Illinois.
The state-of-the-art Ohio River Terminal provides direct barge access, giving Superior Ag the capacity to receive, store, and transport bulk fertilizers more efficiently ahead of peak application seasons.
Equipped with high-speed unloading systems, the terminal features a 600-ton-per-hour barge receiving system capable of offloading a full river barge in approximately three hours.
Furthermore, automated load-out technology allows transport trucks to be loaded in roughly five minutes, significantly cutting queue times for local drivers and commercial haulers compared to traditional scale-based terminal operations.
By securing fertilizer bulk shipments via river transport during off-peak periods, the cooperative aims to protect local growers from sudden market volatility and seasonal supply pinches.
Direct river-to-blending capabilities also minimize physical handling of raw materials, which reduces product degradation and dust while preserving higher crop nutrient quality for farm applications.
Superior Ag President and CEO Richard Lloyd emphasized that the facility represents a long-term investment in regional agricultural infrastructure, giving member-owners localized access to key inputs without requiring them to cross busy metropolitan transit corridors across the river.
The completion of the terminal aligns with Superior Ag’s broader strategy to modernize its agronomy network, which serves more than 2,700 farm members across 13 agronomy hubs, six grain elevators, and specialized feed and fuel divisions.
Regional leaders noted that the terminal strengthens Spencer County’s economic infrastructure while creating permanent operational jobs.
As global fertilizer trade routes continue to face supply disruptions, the facility offers a resilient logistical hub that ensures consistent, cost-effective crop nutrition access for Midwestern producers for decades to come.
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