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Pork export sales notch marketing year low

U.S. pork export sales fell to a marketing year low during the week ending March 6^th. The USDA says most of the key regular U.S. pork customers showed up, but bought less than during the previous week, and there was a net reduction by Canada. Rice and soybean meal also saw week-to-week declines, while beef and corn were both below average. Export demand is influenced by a number of factors including the value of the dollar, seasonal changes in supply, and geopolitical disputes. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand projections is out April 10^th.

The 2024/25 marketing year got underway June 1^st for wheat, August 1^st for cotton and rice, September 1^st for corn, sorghum, and soybeans, and October 1^st for soybean products. The marketing year for beef and pork is the calendar year.

Wheat came out at 783,400 tons (28.8 million bushels), up sharply from the week ending February 27^th and 83% from the four-week average. Panama purchased 237,600 tons and South Korea bought 180,000 tons. Early in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 774.7 million bushels, compared to 679.8 million in 2023/24. Sales of 82,600 tons (3 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were mainly to South Korea (41,100 tons) and the Philippines (20,000 tons).

Corn was reported at 967,300 tons (38.1 million bushels), 6% higher than the previous week, but 19% lower than the four-week average. Mexico picked up 431,600 tons and Japan purchased 194,100 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 285,900 tons. Just after the start of the second half of the marketing year, corn exports are 1.99 billion bushels, compared to 1.595 billion a year ago. Sales of 13,400 tons (500,000 bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Honduras.

Sorghum sales of 33,800 tons (1.3 million bushels) were a solid improvement from the week before and 28% above the four-week average. Mexico bought 33,300 tons and Spain canceled on 1,100 tons. Sorghum exports are 49.7 million bushels, compared to 194.3 million this time last year.

Rice sales of 29,800 tons were 48% under the prior week and 67% below the four-week average. Japan picked up 11,100 tons and Honduras purchased 8,000 tons. Rice exports are 2,468,200 tons, compared to 2,555,500 a year ago.

Soybeans were pegged at 751,700 tons (27.6 million bushels), a strong increase on both the week and the four-week average. China bought 208,300 tons and Indonesia picked up 151,800 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.656 billion bushels, compared to 1.455 billion last year. Sales of 43,100 tons (1.6 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (43,500 tons) with a cancelation by Japan (400 tons).

Soybean meal came out at 184,800 tons, a decline of 22% from the previous week and 31% from the four-week average. Colombia purchased 43,900 tons and Panama bought 32,400 tons. For the marketing year to date, soybean meal exports are 10,994,600 tons, compared to 9,816,200 a year ago. Sales of 1,600 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (1,100 tons) and Canada (500 tons).

Soybean oil was reported at 68,500 tons, 25% more than the week before and quite a bit greater than the four-week average. Unknown destinations picked up 34,000 tons and the Dominican Republic purchased 12,100 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 832,400 tons, compared to 72,600 tons last year.

Upland cotton was pegged at 271,800 bales, rising 13% from both the prior week and the four-week average. Vietnam bought 112,700 bales and Turkey picked up 89,300 bales. 2024/25 upland cotton exports are 10,123,500 bales, compared to 10,615,200 in 2023/24. Sales of 110,200 bales for 2025/26 delivery were primarily to Pakistan (62,400 bales) and Honduras (20,800 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 14,300 tons, up 7% on the week, but down 13% from the four-week average. The reported purchasers were Japan (4,600 tons), South Korea (3,000 tons), China (2,500 tons), Mexico (1,000 tons), and Taiwan (800 tons). Shipments of 15,900 tons were 21% higher than the previous week and 12% above the four-week average, mostly to Japan (4,400 tons), South Korea (4,400 tons), China (2,500 tons), Mexico (1,700 tons), and Taiwan (900 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 20,300 tons, falling 52% from the week before and 35% from the four-week average. The listed buyers were Mexico (6,300 tons), Japan (5,100 tons), South Korea (3,700 tons), Colombia (1,900 tons), and Australia (1,100 tons), with a net reduction by Canada (300 tons). Shipments of 33,600 tons were up 4% from the prior week and 5% from the four-week average, mainly to Mexico (11,200 tons), South Korea (5,900 tons), Japan (4,700 tons), Colombia (2,800 tons), and China (2,600 tons).