Ports of Indiana picks Louis Dreyfus Co. to operate ag terminal at Burns Harbor

Ports of Indiana today announced it has selected Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC), a global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, to operate the grain export facility at its Burns Harbor port on Lake Michigan.

The port’s grain operation includes storage capacity for 7.2 million bushels of grain, 200 rail cars and 20 barges. LDC is expected to begin operating the terminal in early 2026, port officials said in a press release.

“This terminal is one of the leading export facilities in the Midwest, with the capacity to load up to 90,000 bushels per hour into an ocean vessel or laker and unload 30,000 bushels per hour from a unit train," said Burns Harbor Port Director Ryan McCoy. "LDC’s investment will sharpen its competitive edge and help our region expand its multimodal capabilities and grow global trade.”

Port officials announced in 2023 it was seeking a new ag export facility operator after Cargill ended its longtime management of the facility.

Northern Indiana offers the largest U.S. port with access to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and U.S. Inland River System, according to Ports of Indiana officials. It also provides multimodal connections to 16 railroads in the greater Chicago market.