"Kirby Corporation To Present At The BB&T Transportation Services Conference" ($CNRD $KEX)

Highlights from the presentation [pdf]:

• The inland tank barge fleet is 3,100 barges, of which 956 (31%) are more than 30 years old. 
• Only 724 tank barges were built in the last five years.
• Kirby and American Commercial Lines are the largest tank barge operators (about a third of the total).
• There are about 6 dry bulk barges for every tank barge.
• Approximately 8% of industry’s [coastal tank barge] fleet is single hull and required to be removed from service by end of 2014.
• Continued strong inland petrochemical and black oil products demand with utilization in the 90% to 95% level, leading to favorable term and spot contract pricing.
• Higher demand in coastal markets, leading to higher utilization and favorable term and spot contract pricing.