CHS to Take Over Operations of COFCO Grain Facility in Illinois

Image: CHS

CHS Inc., the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States, is expanding its grain-handling presence along the Mississippi River with the addition of a key terminal in southern Illinois.

The company announced that it will assume operations of a grain facility owned by COFCO International Ltd. in Cahokia, Illinois, effective January 31, 2026. The site will be operated under a lease agreement with COFCO.

The Cahokia terminal is located within the St. Louis Harbor area and provides year-round access to the Mississippi River transportation system. The facility is connected by barge, truck and rail, offering direct links to all six of North America’s Class I railroads.

According to CHS, the terminal includes more than seven miles of private on-site rail track and can accommodate four unit trains — each consisting of 110 railcars — at the same time. The infrastructure supports high-volume movement of grain and grain byproducts from rail and truck to barge.

John Griffith, executive vice president for ag business and CHS Hedging, said the expansion aligns with the cooperative’s strategy to strengthen logistics and market access for its farmer-owners.

“We’re focused on strengthening the cooperative system’s capabilities in this important region connected by barge, truck and rail,” Griffith said. “This expansion deepens our connections with local growers, supports our U.S. Center Gulf export strategy and provides our owners with competitive market access.”

CHS stated that the addition of the Cahokia facility will complement its existing grain network and enhance supply flows to domestic customers and international markets through the company’s export terminal in Myrtle Grove, Louisiana.

Once operational, the terminal will become part of CHS’s broader footprint across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, where the cooperative operates approximately 20 grain and agronomy locations serving regional farmers and commercial customers.

CHS is a global agribusiness cooperative owned by farmers, ranchers and local cooperatives across the United States, with operations spanning grain marketing, food ingredients, energy and crop nutrients.