The DeLong Co., Inc. Breaks Ground on Agricultural Export Facility in Portsmouth, VA

Portsmouth, VA – The DeLong Co., Inc. in partnership with The Port of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the CSX Railyard, and the City of Portsmouth, proudly celebrated the groundbreaking of the Portsmouth Agricultural Intermodal Export Facility, located in Portsmouth, Virginia on May 29. Representatives from The DeLong Co., The Port of Virginia and the City of Portsmouth, including Mayor Shannon Glover, were joined by U.S. Representative Bobby Scott, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller, along with other federal, state and local officials, and industry partners to mark this significant investment.

The new facility is slated for completion in early 2026 and will be the first on the East Coast capable of receiving unit trains and transloading agricultural products directly into export containers.

This innovative facility will offer 15,000 metric tons of storage and will handle 15,000–20,000 containers annually, significantly boosting the region’s export capabilities. Whole grains and feedstuffs sourced from local producers and the Midwest will be received by truck and rail, then shipped overseas via the Port of Virginia. The primary export markets include Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and China.

“This project represents a major step in strengthening the economic, agricultural, and logistical landscape of Virginia and the greater East Coast to Midwest corridor,” said Brandon Bickham, Vice President of Exports at The DeLong Co., Inc. “We’re proud to bring this facility to Portsmouth in collaboration with CSX and the Port of Virginia.”

The $26 million project is supported in part by a $750,000 Rail Infrastructure Access (RIA) grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The site is leased from CSX and operated solely by The DeLong Co., Inc.

Facility Highlights – Phase 1

• Storage Capacity: 15,000 metric tons
• Inbound Modes: 90-car unit trains via CSX, truck
• Outbound: Export containers via the Port of Virginia
• Annual Export Capacity: 500,000 metric tons
• Key Commodities: Soybeans, corn, wheat, DDGs, soybean meal
• Markets Served: Asia

The DeLong Co., Inc., headquartered in Clinton, Wisconsin, is the largest U.S. exporter of containerized agricultural products and was named the Port of Virginia’s 2024 Shipper of the Year. With over 39 U.S. locations and a legacy dating back to 1913, the company brings unmatched expertise to the East Coast market.

Phase 2 of the Portsmouth facility is currently in planning and will further expand storage and throughput capacity. Letters of support from stakeholders are welcomed.

For more information or questions regarding the project or The DeLong Co., please email PR@delongcompany.com.