Corn, sorghum, soybean export sales hit marketing year highs

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Corn, sorghum, soybean export sales hit marketing year highs

Corn, sorghum, and soybean export sales all roared to marketing year highs during the week ending January 15^th. The USDA says most of those corn sales to were unknown destinations and Japan, while China and unknown destinations led the way on both beans and sorghum. Upland cotton notched a new marketing year high for the second week in a row, largely thanks to Vietnam. Beef, pork, rice, and soybean meal export sales also saw week-to-week improvements. Export demand is driven by several factors, including the value of the dollar against other currencies, seasonal trends, and geopolitical relationships. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand numbers is out February 10^th.

Physical shipments of soybeans were more than what’s needed to meet USDA projections for the current marketing year. The 2025/26 marketing year began June 1^st for wheat, August 1^st for cotton and rice, September 1^st for beans, corn, and sorghum, and October 1^st for soybean products. The marketing year for beef and pork is the calendar year.

Wheat came out at 618,100 tons (22.7 million bushels), up considerably from both the week ending January 8^th and the four-week average. Unknown destinations purchased 130,600 tons and Mexico bought 115,900 tons. Approaching the third quarter of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat exports are 767.6 million bushels, compared to 650.2 million in 2024/25. Sales of 14,000 tons (500,000 bushels) for 2026/27 delivery were to Japan.

Corn was reported at 4,010,600 tons (157.9 million bushels), a steep rise from both the previous week and the four-week average. Unknown destinations picked up 1,241,800 tons and Japan purchased 836,700 tons. At this point in the marketing year, corn exports are 2.206 billion bushels, compared to 1.651 billion a year ago.

Sorghum sales of 526,800 tons (20.7 million bushels) were 81% larger than the week before and quite a bit above the four-week average. China bought 464,400 tons and unknown destinations picked up 62,000 tons. Sorghum exports are 122.2 million bushels, compared to 44 million last year.

Rice sales of 63,000 tons gained 8% from the prior week and 78% from the four-week average. Honduras purchased 23,900 tons and Japan bought 13,100 tons. Rice exports are 1,537,400 tons, compared to 1,958,200 a year ago.

Soybeans were pegged at 2,446,000 tons (89.9 million bushels), an increase of 19% on the week and 92% from the four-week average. China picked up 1,303,500 tons and unknown destinations purchased 338,300 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.214 billion bushels, compared to 1.55 billion last year. Sales of 9,000 tons (300,000 bushels) for 2026/27 delivery were to unknown destinations (75,000 tons) with a cancelation by China (66,000 tons).

Soybean meal came out at 412,700 tons, 21% higher than the previous week and 82% greater than the four-week average. Vietnam bought 131,500 tons and Colombia picked up 75,900 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 99,900 tons. For the marketing year to date, soybean meal exports are 9,805,900 tons, compared to 8,802,300 a year ago.

Soybean oil was reported at 10,500 tons, a drop of 26% from the week before and 56% from the four-week average. The Dominican Republic purchased 8,000 tons and Mexico bought 4,900 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 313,400 tons, compared to 659,400 last year.

Upland cotton was pegged at 412,500 bales, up 21% from the prior week and quite a bit more than the four-week average. Vietnam picked up 220,700 bales and Bangladesh purchased 38,600 bales. 2025/26 upland cotton exports are 7,349,800 bales, compared to 8,417,300 in 2024/25. Sales of 25,900 bales for 2026/27 delivery were mainly to Nicaragua (9,900 bales) and Turkey (8,500 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 15,400 tons. The reported buyers were Hong Kong (3,700 tons), Japan (3,100 tons), Mexico (2,500 tons), South Korea (2,100 tons), and Taiwan (1,700 tons). Physical shipments of 15,900 tons were primarily to South Korea (4,400 tons), Japan (3,900 tons), Mexico (1,800 tons), Taiwan (1,500 tons), and Hong Kong (1,400 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 33,200 tons. The listed purchasers were Mexico (11,800 tons), South Korea (5,100 tons), Japan (3,400 tons), Colombia (3,200 tons), and Canada (2,400 tons), with a net cancelation by Panama (100 tons). Physical shipments of 39,200 tons were mostly to Mexico (18,800 tons), Japan (4,500 tons), South Korea (4,200 tons), China (3,800 tons), and Canada (2,000 tons).