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Corn, wheat, pork export sales above a week ago

Export sales for a few key commodities saw improvements during the week ending February 27^th. The USDA says corn, wheat, pork, soybean products, and cotton sales all saw week-to-week increases, reflecting solid demand from some of the usual big buyers. Mexico topped the list for pork and wheat and Japan led the way for corn. Export business is heavily influenced by several factors, including the value of the dollar against other currencies, geopolitical relationships, and seasonal supply changes. The USDA’s updated supply and demand projections are out Tuesday, March 11^th at Noon Eastern/11 Central.

Physical shipments of corn and soybeans topped what’s needed weekly to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year kicked off 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 338,700 tons (12.4 million bushels), up 26% from the week ending February 20^th, but down 25% from the four-week average. Mexico purchased 91,900 tons and the Philippines bought 66,600 tons. Approaching the final quarter of the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 745.9 million bushels, compared to 676.7 million in 2023/24. Sales of 77,000 tons (2.8 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were mainly to Honduras (40,000 tons) and Mexico (30,000 tons).

Corn was reported at 909,100 tons (35.8 million bushels), 15% higher than the previous week, but 32% lower than the four-week average. Japan picked up 260,600 tons and Mexico purchased 249,400 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 248,100 tons. Just outside of the second half of the marketing year, corn exports are 1.951 billion bushels, compared to 1.544 billion this time last year. Sales of 52,000 tons (2 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Japan (42,000 tons) and Mexico (10,000 tons).

Sorghum sales of 8,000 tons (300,000 bushel) were a drop of 65% from the week before and 69% from the four-week average. Japan bought 5,000 tons and China picked up 2,000 tons. Sorghum exports are 48.4 million bushels, compared to 194.1 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 57,500 tons were a decline of 69% from the prior week and 28% from the four-week average. Mexico purchased 44,400 tons and Japan bought 13,900 tons. Rice exports are 2,438,500 tons, compared to 2,511,700 last year. Sales of 10,100 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to South Korea (10,000 tons) and France (100 tons).

Soybeans were pegged at 352,900 tons (13 million bushels), falling 14% on the week while remaining steady with the four-week average. China picked up 205,700 tons and Germany purchased 114,100 tons, but unknown destinations canceled on 216,900 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.631 billion bushels, compared to 1.444 billion a year ago. Sales of 54,900 tons (2 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were mostly to Mexico (40,300 tons) and Japan (10,500 tons).

Soybean meal came out at 236,600 tons, 34% above the previous week, but 31% below the four-week average. Guatemala bought 74,300 tons and Venezuela picked up 58,100 tons. For the marketing year to date, soybean meal exports are 10,809,800 tons, compared to 9,606,700 last year. Sales of 100 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Canada.

Soybean oil was reported at 54,800 tons, rising sharply from both the week before and the four-week average. Unknown destinations purchased 20,000 tons and India bought 10,000 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 763,900 tons, compared to 61,400 a year ago.

Upland cotton was pegged at 241,500 bales, 45% greater than the prior week and 6% larger than the four-week average. Vietnam picked up 73,100 bales and China purchased 46,800 bales. 2024/25 upland cotton exports are 9,851,700 bales, compared to 10,529,400 in 2023/24. Sales of 105,600 bales for 2025/26 delivery were mainly to Pakistan (75,500 bales) and Nicaragua (15,900 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 13,400 tons, a decrease of 27% on the week and 31% from the four-week average. The listed buyers were South Korea (3,300 tons), Japan (2,900 tons), China (2,500 tons), Taiwan (2,100 tons), and Mexico (1,000 tons). Shipments of 13,200 tons were down 11% from the previous week and 17% from the four-week average, primarily to Japan (3,800 tons), South Korea (3,400 tons), China (2,300 tons), Mexico (1,300 tons), and Taiwan (800 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 42,400 tons, an increase of 32% from the week before and 27% from the four-week average. The reported purchasers were Mexico (21,800 tons), China (11,300 tons), Japan (3,200 tons), Colombia (1,900 tons), and South Korea (1,300 tons), with a net reduction by Canada (100 tons). Shipments of 32,200 tons were 6% less than the prior week and 3% below the four-week average, mostly to Mexico (13,500 tons), Japan (4,200 tons), China (3,000 tons), and Colombia (2,000 tons).