Kirby is inching closer to an upturn — but, for now, the company is still recording losses.

The Houston-based barge owner finished the first three months of 2021 with a $3.4m loss versus a $347m deficit for the same period last year.

New York-listed Kirby said its bottom line was hit by oil demand destruction from the Covid-19 pandemic and a winter storm that struck the US Gulf Coast.