ACX Pacific Northwest was the leading US exporter of alfalfa
and grass hay in 2012, the third straight year it was tops in the category. ACX
also moved up a notch in the animal feed category to become the country’s second
largest, behind grain shipper DeLong, according to new data.
ACX exported 52,400 TEUs in 2012, representing almost
700,000 tons of long fiber forage, according to the Journal of Commerce. The
JOC lists ACX as the 23rd largest exporter in the US overall. Most of ACX’s hay
exports are to Asia and Middle East markets.
“When ACX started 35 years ago, we shipped our hay products
primarily to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan for dairy and beef cow markets,”
Chief Marketing Officer Mike Gombos stated. “Today we are also shipping to
China and the Middle East, not just for dairy and beef, but to feed goats,
camels and sheep.”
Exports of US hay continue to grow each year. According to
the Department of Commerce, 2008 hay exports totaled about 2.5 million tons; but
by the end of 2012, global demand for US hay increased to over 3.7 million
tons, and 2013 is on track to reach or exceed those levels.
ACX was the first hay exporter to open a major hay
processing facility just outside the Port of Los Angeles and also opened a new
facility in the Port of Stockton and began exporting large volumes of hay
through the Port of Oakland.
“We located our facility at the Port of Stockton in
anticipation of their new barge service to the Port of Oakland on the Marine
580,” Gombos said. The Marine 580 project allows exports of heavy containers by
using a barge service operated by the Port of Stockton to transport containers
to Oakland.
