<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001272745</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000056047</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>KIRBY CORPORATION</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-07615</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>55 Waugh Drive</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:street2>Suite 1000</ns2:street2>
                <ns2:city>Houston</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>TX</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>77007</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>713-435-1000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>RICHARD ALARIO</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>2500</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>303464.50</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>58300000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>05/21/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/30/2011</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>59</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/30/2011</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/04/2015</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>212</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/04/2015</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/02/2016</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1549</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/02/2016</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>09/30/2011</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>60</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>09/30/2011</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>12/30/2011</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>60</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>12/30/2011</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/30/2012</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>60</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/30/2012</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>10/24/2012</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>10/24/2012</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>05/21/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Richard Alario</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
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144
0001272745
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000056047
KIRBY CORPORATION
001-07615
55 Waugh Drive
Suite 1000
Houston
TX
77007
713-435-1000
RICHARD ALARIO
Director
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
2500
303464.50
58300000
05/21/2024
NYSE
Common
06/30/2011
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
59
06/30/2011
Not Applicable
Common
11/04/2015
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
212
11/04/2015
Not Applicable
Common
11/02/2016
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
1549
11/02/2016
Not Applicable
Common
09/30/2011
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
60
09/30/2011
Not Applicable
Common
12/30/2011
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
60
12/30/2011
Not Applicable
Common
03/30/2012
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
60
03/30/2012
Not Applicable
Common
10/24/2012
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
500
10/24/2012
Not Applicable
Y
05/21/2024
/s/ Richard Alario