Cargill, CHS to add Houston grain terminal to TEMCO joint venture

Cargill and CHS Inc. last week announced plans to expand the scope of their joint venture, TEMCO LLC, by adding the Cargill-owned export grain terminal in Houston, Texas.

The addition of the Houston terminal will expand the joint venture’s export capabilities, providing shipping access for grains, oilseeds and byproducts through the Port of Houston, the companies said in a joint press release.

The Houston terminal is located 40 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico via Galveston Bay. With 6 million bushels of storage and capacity for 350 rail cars, the facility handles up to 250 million bushels annually. The terminal receives both trucks and rail cars with a variety of commodities for global export, Cargill officials said.

"In keeping with our purpose of creating connections to empower agriculture, access to the Houston terminal provides additional options for area cooperatives and farmers to participate in the global marketplace, helping to advance CHS growth strategy for the region and open new opportunities for U.S. farmers," said John Griffith, executive vice president of ag business for CHS.

TEMCO currently operates three facilities in the Pacific Northwest: Portland, Oregon, and Kalama and Tacoma, Washington. The three facilities distribute grain to global markets, primarily those located in the Asia-Pacific region.