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>0001203122</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>PYNE J H</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Former Chairman</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>21396</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>2456422.77</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>58300000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/10/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/10/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>EXERCISE OF A STOCK AWARD</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>KIRBY CORP</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>21396</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/10/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>J H PYNE</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>55 WAUGH DRIVE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>STE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>HOUSTON</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>77007</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>KIRBY CORP - COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/07/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>10000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>1135190.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>J H PYNE</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>55 WAUGH DRIVE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>STE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>HOUSTON</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>77007</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>KIRBY CORP - COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/06/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>10505</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>1172992.50</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>J H PYNE</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>55 WAUGH DRIVE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>STE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>HOUSTON</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>77007</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>KIRBY CORP - COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/03/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>18603</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>2054078.15</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>J H PYNE</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>55 WAUGH DRIVE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>STE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>HOUSTON</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>77007</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>KIRBY CORP - COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/02/2024</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>892</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>98159.25</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/10/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>J H PYNE</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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text: 144
  0001203122
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000056047
  KIRBY CORP
  001-07615
  55 WAUGH DRIVE SUITE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  7134351000
  PYNE J H
  Former Chairman
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  STE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  21396
  2456422.77
  58300000
  05/10/2024
  NYSE
  COMMON
  05/10/2024
  EXERCISE OF A STOCK AWARD
  KIRBY CORP
  N
  21396
  05/10/2024
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  N
  J H PYNE
  55 WAUGH DRIVE
  STE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  KIRBY CORP - COMMON
  05/07/2024
  10000
  1135190.00
  J H PYNE
  55 WAUGH DRIVE
  STE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  KIRBY CORP - COMMON
  05/06/2024
  10505
  1172992.50
  J H PYNE
  55 WAUGH DRIVE
  STE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  KIRBY CORP - COMMON
  05/03/2024
  18603
  2054078.15
  J H PYNE
  55 WAUGH DRIVE
  STE 1000
  HOUSTON
  TX
  77007
  KIRBY CORP - COMMON
  05/02/2024
  892
  98159.25
  05/10/2024
  J H PYNE