Wisconsin co. breaks ground on $26M Portsmouth export facility

The DeLong Co., a Wisconsin agriculture company, on Thursday broke ground on a $26 million agricultural export facility in Portsmouth that will be used to prepare whole grains and feedstuffs for shipment.

The Portsmouth Agricultural Intermodal Export Facility will have a storage capacity of 15,000 metric tons and will be located at the former CSX intermodal site, located at 1 Harper Ave. DeLong says it will be the first facility of its kind on the East Coast to receive unit trains and that it is expected to handle 15,000 to 20,000 containers each year.

The site will receive products produced and processed locally and from the Midwest, according to the company. The products will be delivered through inbound truck and rail before being transloaded into export containers.

“We look forward to continuing our legacy of investing in growth that benefits innovation and the communities we serve,” DeLong President Chris DeLong said in a statement.

A spokesperson said the site is expected to be operational in early 2026. Once complete, the company expects the facility to strengthen the region’s overall logistic capabilities and increase access to Far East export markets.

“This project represents a major step in strengthening the economic, agricultural and logistical landscape of Virginia and the greater East Coast to Midwest regions,” Brandon Bickham, DeLong’s vice president of exports, said in a statement. “We have been collaborating on this project with the Port of Virginia and CSX Railroad, and we are excited to bring this project to Portsmouth. The new facility will not only open new markets to agricultural producers but also contribute to the area’s long-term growth and success.”

Headquartered in Clinton, Wisconsin, and founded in 1913, DeLong operates 37 locations around the United States and is the largest U.S. exporter of containerized agricultural products. In September 2024, the Port of Virginia gave the company its Shipper of the Year Award, recognizing its 15-year history of shipping through the port.