U.S. export sales mostly up on week

The USDA says exports sales during the first full week of 2025 generally showed some improvements. Corn, soybean, soybean oil, wheat, rice, cotton, and beef sales were all up on the week as global business resumed after the holidays, but pork sales were down slightly and soybean meal hit a marketing year low. Export trade is influenced by several factors, including the value of the dollar relative to other currencies, seasonal changes in supply, and geopolitical relationships. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand numbers is out February 11th.

Physical shipments of corn and soybeans were above what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year began June 1st for wheat, August 1st for cotton and rice, September 1st for beans, corn, and sorghum, and October 1st for soybean products. The marketing year for beef and pork is the calendar year.

Wheat came out at 513,400 tons (18.9 million bushels), a big improvement from the week ending January 2nd and up 55% from the four-week average. South Korea purchased 131,800 tons and Taiwan bought 114,700 tons. At this point in the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 644.1 million bushels, compared to 591.6 million in 2023/24. Sales of 8,500 tons (300,000 bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (6,000 tons) and Peru (2,500 tons).

Corn was reported at 1,024,200 tons (40.3 million bushels), sharply higher than the previous week and steady with the four-week average. Japan picked up 281,300 tons and South Korea purchased 281,200 tons, but there were a handful of cancelations, led by unknown destinations at 409,400 tons. For the marketing year to date, corn exports are 1.585 billion bushels, compared to 1.241 billion this time last year. Sales of 200 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to China.

There were no new sorghum sales. Sorghum exports are 44 million bushels, compared to 165.6 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 23,100 tons were above the week before, but 61% below the four-week average. Haiti bought 15,100 tons and Mexico picked up 5,600 tons. Rice exports are 1,911,700 tons, compared to 2,005,300 last year.