Frey Partners with Ports America Chesapeake to Establish New Agricultural Export Facility at the Port of Baltimore

New grain transloading facility at Seagirt Marine Terminal to expand export access for Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania farmers

BALTIMORE, MD — Grain farmers in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and soybean crush facilities in the Midwest will gain improved export opportunities later this year as Ports America Chesapeake has partnered with commodity trading and logistics firm Frey to establish a new agricultural product export facility at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in the Port of Baltimore.

By transloading containers directly at the port—rather than relying on traditional off-site container loading that requires an additional truck transfer—the project will take significant truck miles off the road, reducing costs and resulting in a more streamlined and sustainable supply chain for local farmers.

Construction of the 60,000-bushel grain storage and transloading facility is already underway and is expected to be completed by August 2026. The project is being funded by Ports America Chesapeake on a site leased from the Maryland Port Administration, while Frey will operate the facility exclusively for a minimum of six years.

The new facility will operate as a full-service grain elevator with the capacity to load more than 200 containers per week. It will feature three storage tanks with a combined capacity of 60,000 bushels and will support transloading from both trucks and rail cars. Short line rail access to both the CSX and NS rail networks will provide enhanced export access for grain producers and processors from the Midwest.

On Thursday, April 9th, representatives from Frey, Ports America Chesapeake, and the Maryland Port Administration were joined by Maryland Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle, Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, and Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Seagirt Marine Terminal.

“We are thrilled to help bring this facility to life at the Port of Baltimore. This is a major win for grain producers in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania — it provides a more efficient supply-chain model that connects them directly to overseas markets where demand is growing. It’s also a natural next step for Frey as we continue connecting producers and processors across North America with global markets, and it unlocks meaningful new export opportunities for feed-product producers in the Midwest through the facility’s direct-from-rail capabilities.”
— Mike Adamchak, Chief Commercial Officer, Frey

“This new partnership with Frey adds transloading capabilities at the Port of Baltimore and creates a more efficient, streamlined supply chain for farmers while strengthening the region’s competitive position. Direct delivery to Seagirt reduces complexity and cost for producers and allows the Port to expand agricultural exports.”
— Mark Schmidt, President, Ports America Chesapeake

“This is a significant achievement for Maryland farming, agricultural logistics, and the Port of Baltimore. Thanks to the unique partnership between Ports America Chesapeake and Frey, we will soon have a much more efficient, as well as cleaner and greener, way of moving different Maryland produced grains into international markets.”
— Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation

“Maryland agriculture benefits significantly from expanded export opportunities, and this new transloading facility is a critical step in connecting our grain and soybean producers with the global marketplace. By streamlining the supply chain and providing direct access to the Port of Baltimore, we are reducing costs for our farm families and ensuring they remain competitive.”
— Kevin Atticks, Secretary, Maryland Department of Agriculture

“This new facility will help strengthen Maryland’s economy by lowering the cost of doing business for agricultural producers in our state and the region. This will also help draw more business to Maryland as more suppliers from across the country see the Port of Baltimore as the ideal gateway to get their products to the global market.”
— Harry Coker, Jr., Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce

Facility Overview

About Frey

As a challenger in the commodities market, Frey is committed to re-thinking agricultural commodities trading and logistics through a data-driven approach and innovative solutions. Frey trades over 1.3 million metric tons per year through offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and has quickly established a reputation for breaking down barriers and helping small businesses and independent farmers gain access to global markets.

Media Contact

Laura Toraldo
lt@kopublicaffairs.com  |  302-858-3727