Portage-based Tanco Terminals is expanding its liquid barge facility at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville.
The move aims to meet rising demand for blended fertilizers in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. The $750,000 expansion includes the construction of two 45,000-gallon tanks designed to support Seymour-based Premier Ag, a regional cooperative and new customer of Tanco Terminals.
Established in 2000, at the Ohio River port, Tanco Terminals provides marine, rail and truck access for liquid asphalt and fertilizer products.
“This expansion is about more than just infrastructure – it’s about aligning with the needs of our customers and the market,” said Kip Middendorf, Tanco Terminals vice president and managing director, in a press release. “Premier Ag’s commitment to the Jeffersonville facility was a major driver in our investments, which not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate future growth.”
The new tanks allow Premier Ag to blend fertilizer additives for farmers on an order-by-order basis, tailoring them to local soil conditions. This capability is expected to increase throughput at the terminal and provide farmers with enhanced fertilizer options.
Tanco’s port facility receives liquid shipments via barge, rail and truck, allowing Premier Ag to purchase products from multiple markets throughout the world and store them locally so products can be blended on an as-needed basis.
“As someone who lives in a farming community, I can speak from experience when I say that farmers operate around the clock, and Tanco Terminals and Premier Ag have positioned this operation to be an important hub for northern Kentucky and southern Indiana farmers,” George Ott, Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville port director, said. “This partnership ensures that fertilizer is available when and where it’s needed most.”
Tanco Terminals is a family-owned business. It has been part of the Ports of Indiana ecosystem since 1977 when it established a liquid-bulk terminal at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan.
“Tanco Terminals plays an extremely important role in the industrial supply chain for farmers, construction, manufacturing and transportation interests at both ends of Indiana and for the surrounding states,” Jody Peacock, Ports of Indiana CEO, said. “We’re extremely proud of our almost 50-year partnership and the continued expansion of this Indiana-grown family business.”
