A Special Multi-Client Study Evaluation and Outlook of the US Inland Barge Industry   What is the economic vitality of the US inland river barge industry? Click below to view the study's entire Table of Contents... What does the future hold for the barge industry?   Background The inland river dry cargo barge industry operates amidst a volatile revenue and rate of  return environment moving commodities and products that not only respond to variations in tonnage and the supply of barges but to weather, policy, competing modes and a myriad of other factors. The multi-client study proposed in this document examined all of these factors and develop a coherent picture of the future of the dry cargo barge industry. Over the past 2 decades, the barge industry has undergone significant changes due to consolidation, policy issues and changing barge ownership regulations. Gyrations in barge construction have also had a profound impact. Moreover, the barge business has been subject to periods of extreme demand weakness and extreme demand strength. This has had an impact on all barge lines and manufacturers of barges and leads to critical questions such as how will changes in the industry affect the long-term outlook for the barge industry and what are the demand prospects for barge operators? Informa Economics addressed the long-term demand factors present in the barge industry as well as the structural factors (such as barge availability) that will impact the industry in the future. Grain movements have a particularly strong impact on dry cargo barge rates and revenues. The primary reason for this is the volatility (e.g., short-term variation) and inherent cyclical nature (e.g., shifting long-term trends) in the grain trade. Informa Economics is especially suited to evaluate areas of fundamental analysis of agricultural markets and U.S. grain flow patterns. Non-grain commodities were also evaluated to round out the demand picture. The non-grain commodities evaluated included: coal, all chemical fertilizers, iron and steel, nonferrous ores, soil, sand, rock and stone, and lime, cement and glass. Barge demand and supply were developed for covered and open barges. The study evaluated key financial factors as well. The principal objective of the study was to present a comprehensive outlook for the barge industry that serves as a guide for financial and strategic decisions. The multi-client study approach was used so that individual firms will, for a modest cost, have access to resources and a knowledge base that typically would cost many multiples times the base cost of the study to each participant. Please review the following prospectus carefully and feel free to contact us -  Thomas Scott, President or Ken Eriksen, Senior Vice President, Telephone (901) 766-4463. CLICK HERE to view and print the entire prospectus in pdf form.   To obtain additional information, email info@informaecon.com   Also of interest to the Barge Industry: Informa Economics Annual Edition "Barge Fleet Profile" Our continuing study, "The Barge Fleet Profile,"  seeks to identify the line haul, commodity carrying fleet of inland barges operating on the Mississippi River System, its connecting waterways and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.  Data and information are gathered through an annual survey of operators, personal contact, use of available Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard statistics and reference to the author's historic research materials. To visit the Barge Fleet Web Site,  please CLICK HERE....