content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001548929</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000056047</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KIRBY CORP</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-07615</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>55 WAUGH DRIVE SUITE 1000</com:street1>
          <com:city>HOUSTON</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>77007</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>7134351000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>O'Neil Christian G.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Merrill Lynch</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>3455 Peachtree Rd NE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>Ste 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>Atlanta</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>15500</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>1705576.94</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>58300000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>08/05/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/05/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of a Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Kirby Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>15500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/05/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensatory Payment</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>08/05/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>Christian G O'Neil</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
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text: 144
  0001548929
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000056047
  KIRBY CORP
  001-07615
  55 WAUGH DRIVE SUITE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  7134351000
  O'Neil Christian G.
  Officer
  Common
  Merrill Lynch
  3455 Peachtree Rd NE
  Ste 1000
  Atlanta
  GA
  30326
  15500
  1705576.94
  58300000
  08/05/2024
  NYSE
  Common
  08/05/2024
  Exercise of a Stock Award
  Kirby Corporation
  N
  15500
  08/05/2024
  Compensatory Payment
  Y
  08/05/2024
  Christian G O'Neil