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Mostly slow holiday week for U.S. export sales as report gets back on schedule

The USDA says export sales were mixed during the week ending January 1^st. Corn notched a marketing year low following a handful of cancelations led by unknown destinations. Soybeans were below the four-week average, even as China topped the list of buyers, and wheat was up on the week, but fell under the average due to rising global competition on the export market. Beef and pork sales were solid. The USDA’s updated supply and demand numbers are out Monday at Noon Eastern/11 Central.

This report marks the first set of “on schedule” USDA weekly export sales numbers as data reporting continues to get back on track following the 2025 partial shutdown of the federal government.

Shipments of corn and wheat remain ahead of 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 118,700 tons (4.4 million bushels), up 24% from the week ending December 25^th, but down 55% from the four-week average. The Philippines purchased 61,000 tons and unknown destinations bought 32,000 tons. Early in the second half of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat exports are 739.1 million bushels, compared to 625.2 million in 2024/25. A net reduction of 9,300 tons (300,000 bushels) for 2026/27 delivery followed a cancelation by Peru.

Corn was reported at 377,600 tons (14.9 million bushels), a decline of 49% from the previous week and 76% from the four-week average. South Korea picked up 139,000 tons and Japan purchased 108,100 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 226,700 tons. In the second quarter of the marketing year, corn exports are 2.004 billion bushels, compared to 1.545 billion this time last year. Sales of 11,900 tons (500,000 bushels) for 2026/27 delivery were to Mexico.

Sorghum sales of 229,900 tons (9.1 million bushels), rose sharply from the week before and 4% from the four-week average. China bought 222,300 tons and Spain picked up 53,100 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 49,000 tons. Sorghum exports are 90 million bushels, compared to 44 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 17,400 tons were 24% lower than the prior week and 45% below the four-week average. Canada purchased 5,900 tons and Honduras bought 5,000 tons. Rice exports are 1,416,300 tons, compared to 1,888,700 last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 877,900 tons (32.3 million bushels), a decrease of 26% on the week and 42% from the four-week average. China picked up 470,100 tons and Egypt purchased 173,200 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.05 billion bushels, compared to 1.476 billion a year ago.

Soybean meal came out at 158,100 tons, 43% more than the previous week, but 51% less than the four-week average. Mexico bought 57,400 tons and the Dominican Republic picked up 44,900 tons. At this point in the marketing year, soybean meal exports are 9,052,700 tons, compared to 8,449,000 last year. Sales of 6,600 tons for 2026/27 delivery were to Mexico.

Soybean oil was reported at 24,900 tons, a solid improvement from the week before and 52% larger than the four-week average. Venezuela purchased 12,500 tons and Morocco bought 12,000 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 288,900 tons, compared to 599,400 a year ago.

Upland cotton was pegged at 98,000 bales, a drop of 27% on the week and 49% from the four-week average, Vietnam purchased 38,700 bales and Pakistan bought 14,400 bales. 2025/26 upland cotton exports are 6,597,600 bales, compared to 7,751,100 in 2024/25. Sales of 22,500 bales for 2026/27 delivery were to Vietnam (15,900 bales) and Turkey (6,600 bales).

Net beef sales for 2026 delivery totaled 10,600 tons. The listed purchasers were South Korea (4,400 tons), Mexico (1,600 tons), Taiwan (1,500 tons), Japan (1,200 tons), and Canada (800 tons). The USDA says 2,200 tons were carried over from 2025 to 2026. 2025 U.S. beef export sales were 697,000 tons, a drop of 14% from the 2024 total of 797,700 tons.

Net pork sales for 2026 delivery totaled 27,700 tons. The reported buyers were Mexico (12,800 tons), Japan (8,700 tons), South Korea (2,300 tons), China (1,300 tons), and Colombia (700 tons). The USDA says a net reduction of 400 tons was carried over from 2025 to 2026. 2025 U.S. pork exports were 1,548,800 tons, 8% below the 2024 total of 1,677,600 tons.