BrownfieldAgNews reports:
Demand from Mexico continues to drive U.S. corn exports. The USDA says about half of the corn export sales total during the week ending September 18th was picked up by Mexico as buyers try to meet livestock feed needs. That strong demand from Mexico and favorable pricing has new crop U.S. corn sales running considerably faster than last marketing year. Pork and wheat export sales were also up on the week, while beef, sorghum, and soybeans declined. Export demand is influenced by several factors, including the value of the dollar, seasonal supply trends, and geopolitical relationships. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand estimates is out October 9th.
Physical shipments of wheat were more than what was needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year began October 1st for soybean products, while 2025/26 started June 1st for wheat, August 1st for cotton and rice, and September 1st for beans, corn, and sorghum. The marketing year for beef and pork is the calendar year.
Wheat came out at 539,800 tons (19.8 million bushels), up 43% from the week ending September 11th and 37% from the four-week average. The Philippines purchased 116,000 tons and Italy bought 86,900 tons. In the second quarter of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat exports are 501.2 million bushels, compared to 405.2 million in 2024/25.
Corn was reported at 1,923,400 tons (75.7 million bushels). Mexico picked up 891,100 tons and unknown destinations purchased 290,700 tons. Early this marketing year, corn exports are 1.014 billion bushels, compared to 580.4 million a year ago.
Sorghum sales were 56,600 tons (26.6 million bushels). Unknown destinations bought 90,000 tons, while Mexico canceled on 33,400 tons. Sorghum exports are 16.3 million bushels, compared to 24.2 million this time last year.
Rice sales of 8,300 tons were unchanged from the previous week and down 78% from the four-week average. Haiti picked up 6,200 tons and Mexico purchased 3,900 tons, while Venezuela canceled on 5,000 tons. Rice exports are 690,400 tons, compared to 929,000 a year ago.
Soybeans were pegged at 724,500 tons (26.6 million bushels). Egypt bought 166,200 tons and Taiwan picked up 115,300 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 404.2 million bushels, compared to 640.5 million last year.
Old crop soybean meal was reported at 79,600 tons, a solid improvement from both the week before and the four-week average. Venezuela purchased 46,200 tons and unknown destinations bought 11,300 tons. Late in the 2024/25 marketing year, soybean meal exports are 15,784,500 tons, compared to 13,877,800 in 2023/24. Sales of 146,600 tons were mainly to Colombia (52,500 tons) and unknown destinations (46,100 tons).
Old crop soybean oil hit a marketing year low with a net reduction of 23,300 tons. Sales of 100 tons each to Canada and Venezuela were more than offset by reductions of 22,000 tons by South Korea and 1,600 tons by Mexico. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 1,095,600 tons, compared to 281,300 a year ago. Sales of 53,200 tons for 2025/26 delivery were primarily to South Korea (22,000 tons) and Venezuela (13,500 tons).
Upland cotton was pegged at 86,100 bales, a drop of 54% from both the prior week and the four-week average. India picked up 27,300 bales and Turkey purchased 22,300 bales. 2025/26 upland cotton exports are 4,058,900 bales, compared to 4,959,000 in 2024/25.
Net beef sales totaled 8,400 tons, a decrease of 47% on the week and 42% from the four-week average. The reported buyers were Japan (2,000 tons), Mexico (1,800 tons), South Korea (1,300 tons), Taiwan (1,100 tons), and Canada (900 tons). Physical shipments of 12,500 tons were 5% less than the previous week, but 11% more than the four-week average, mostly to Japan (3,400 tons), South Korea (2,900 tons), Mexico (1,500 tons), Taiwan (1,100 tons), and Canada (1,000 tons). Sales of 100 tons for 2026 delivery were to Taiwan.
Net pork sales totaled 29,400 tons, an increase of 34% from the week before and 12% from the four-week average. The listed purchasers were Mexico (10,000 tons), South Korea (4,900 tons), Japan (3,800 tons), the Dominican Republic (2,600 tons), and Colombia (2,000 tons), with a cancelation by Panama (100 tons). Physical shipments of 29,300 tons were steady from the prior week and 12% higher than the four-week average, mainly to Mexico (13,100 tons), Japan (3,600 tons), China (2,800 tons), South Korea (2,400 tons), and Colombia (1,900 tons). Sales of 200 tons for 2026 delivery were to South Korea.
