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China leads the way on U.S. soybean export inspections

The USDA’s reporting another solid week for soybean export inspections. Soybean inspections were down a little bit on the week, but were up solidly on the year, with China leading the way as the U.S. beans purchased under the trade deal framework leave port. The overall pace of shipments for U.S. beans as of the week ending January 29^th remains slower than most years because of China’s preference for Brazil’s beans, which is mostly due to price. Wheat inspections were also above a year ago, while corn and sorghum fell below last year’s levels. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand estimates is out February 10^th.

The 2025/26 marketing year got underway June 1^st for wheat and September 1^st for beans, corn, and sorghum.

Wheat came out at 326,828 tons, down 52,163 from the week ending January 22^nd, but up 73,691 from the week ending January 30^th, 2025. The top destinations were Mexico and Taiwan. With about a month left in the third quarter of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat inspections are 16,685,581 tons, compared to 14,067,849 in 2024/25.

Corn was reported at 1,136,352 tons, a decline of 410,712 from the previous week and 124,632 from a year ago. The leading destinations were Mexico and Japan. Closing in on the halfway point of the marketing year, corn inspections are 32,611,083 tons, compared to 21,761,284 this time last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 1,310,559 tons, 25,752 less than the week before, but 170,128 more than last year. The main destinations were China and Mexico. So far, this marketing year, soybean inspections are 21,991,461 tons, compared to 34,192,882 a year ago.

Sorghum inspections totaled 53,546 tons, falling 72,471 on the week and 19,677 on the year. The largest destination was China, followed distantly by Panama. 2025/26 sorghum inspections are 1,359,784 tons, compared to 1,458,074 in 2024/25.