AGP Invests in Port Facility to Support Export Opportunities

American agribusiness Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) revealed plans this week to invest in an expansion and upgrade of its export facilities at the Port of Grays Harbor (POGH) in Aberdeen, WA. During the project, the company will add storage capabilities, upgrade its existing Terminal 2 building, and install a new ship loader at Terminal 4 at the site.

“AGP has developed a very strong relationship with the Port of Grays Harbor leadership team. We look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship as we move forward with this project,” the firm’s chairman, Lowell Wilson, said in a statement. “The project approved by the AGP Board will greatly increase railcar unloading speed, ship loading capabilities, and add redundancy.”

The improvements will allow AGP to load several ships at once, including Panamex-sized vessels.

“With the expansion of US soybean crush capacity driven by the demand for renewable feedstock, soybean meal production in the United States will outpace historical increases in domestic usage. AGP’s western US processing locations fit well to supply additional protein to the growing Southeast Asian and Asian markets,” said Chris Schaffer, CEO of AGP, in a company release. “The US currently provides less than 20% of overall Southeast Asian soymeal demand. Through the years, AGP has developed a very strong relationship with protein buyers in this region. This project will significantly improve speed, capacity, and product availability for the benefit of current and future international customers.”

Operations at the revamped site are slated to commence in 2025. AGP is currently engaged with state and local officials to make a final construction decision and develop a timeline for the project.