US grain handling company Consolidated Grain and Barge Co (CGB) has started work on the US$47M expansion of its soyabean processing plant at the Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon.
The project would triple the grain handling capacity of CGB’s soyabean processing operations at them plant from the current 50M bushels/year, the Ports of Indiana said on 19 May, the day work at the site started.
At the site on the Ohio River, CGB produces soyabean oil, meal and hulls which are shipped to livestock producers and food companies around the world.
The expansion would include new grain storage and truck unloading facilities, as well as a conveyor system that transfers grain between multiple sites at the port, Ports of Indiana said.
In addition, the project would increase the facility’s storage volume by 4.25M bushels and boost truck unloading capacity by 200%.
Construction was expected to be completed in 2027.
“Expanding CGB’s port facilities helps … farmers move crops more efficiently to global markets, supports rural communities and reinforces Indiana’s leadership in agriculture and trade,” said Indiana governor Mike Braun.
Over the past decade, CGB’s soyabean volume at Mount Vernon had increased more than 60%, driving the need for expanded capacity and improved truck flow, the Ports of India said.
The new unloading system would allow truckloads to fully discharge without repositioning, reducing congestion on port roads, shortening turnaround times and lowering transportation costs for local farmers.
“By improving traffic flow and reducing wait times, CGB is making soyabean delivery at Mount Vernon more efficient while positioning the facility for the future,” said Tom Malecha, CGB Enterprises executive vice president.
CGB also manages grain merchandising as well as ethanol and distiller’s dried grains (DDG) transload facilities at the port.
Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, CGB – a wholly-owned subsidiary of CGB Enterprises – has more than 110 grain facilities with integrated barge, rail and truck transportation capabilities and also has operations in logistics and transportation, soyabean processing and other related businesses.
According to Sosland Publishing Co’s 2026 Grain & Milling Annual, CGB Enterprises is the sixth-largest grain handling company in North America, with 256.7M bushels of licensed storage, including seven terminal facilities, six sub-terminal facilities and 40 country elevators.
Indiana is one of the nation’s leading soyabean-producing states, and the Mount Vernon port serves as a major gateway for agricultural exports. The port handles approximately 5M tonnes/year of cargo, including grain, soyabean products, ethanol, fertiliser, steel and project cargo.
