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U.S. export sales mostly up on week

The USDA says exports sales during the first full week of 2025 generally showed some improvements. Corn, soybean, soybean oil, wheat, rice, cotton, and beef sales were all up on the week as global business resumed after the holidays, but pork sales were down slightly and soybean meal hit a marketing year low. Export trade is influenced by several factors, including the value of the dollar relative to other currencies, seasonal changes in supply, and geopolitical relationships. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand numbers is out February 11^th.

Physical shipments of corn and soybeans were above what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 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 513,400 tons (18.9 million bushels), a big improvement from the week ending January 2^nd and up 55% from the four-week average. South Korea purchased 131,800 tons and Taiwan bought 114,700 tons. At this point in the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 644.1 million bushels, compared to 591.6 million in 2023/24. Sales of 8,500 tons (300,000 bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (6,000 tons) and Peru (2,500 tons).

Corn was reported at 1,024,200 tons (40.3 million bushels), sharply higher than the previous week and steady with the four-week average. Japan picked up 281,300 tons and South Korea purchased 281,200 tons, but there were a handful of cancelations, led by unknown destinations at 409,400 tons. For the marketing year to date, corn exports are 1.585 billion bushels, compared to 1.241 billion this time last year. Sales of 200 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to China.

There were no new sorghum sales. Sorghum exports are 44 million bushels, compared to 165.6 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 23,100 tons were above the week before, but 61% below the four-week average. Haiti bought 15,100 tons and Mexico picked up 5,600 tons. Rice exports are 1,911,700 tons, compared to 2,005,300 last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 569,100 tons (20.9 million bushels), quite a bit larger than the prior week, but 27% smaller than the four-week average. China purchased 213,900 tons and Bangladesh bought 179,200 tons, but unknown destinations canceled on 648,100 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.503 billion bushels, compared to 1.374 billion a year ago.

Soybean meal came out at 144,400 tons, a drop of 42% from the four-week average. Morocco picked up 33,900 tons and Panama purchased 23,300 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 36,800 tons. Early in the second quarter of the marketing year, soybean meal exports are 8,593,500 tons, compared to 7,553,000 last year. Sales of 1,100 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico.

Soybean oil was reported at 57,200 tons, an increase of 65% on the week and 92% from the four-week average. Venezuela bought 27,400 tons and India picked up 14,500 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 656,600 tons, compared to 32,200 a year ago. Sales of 100 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico.

Upland cotton was pegged at 316,200 bales, a lot more than the previous week and 71% greater than the four-week average. Turkey purchased 102,100 bales and Vietnam bought 79,400 bales. 2024/25 upland cotton exports are 8,068,300 bales, compared to 9,306,000 in 2023/24. Sales of 1,300 bales for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico.

Net beef sales totaled 9,700 tons. The reported buyers were Japan (3,600 tons), China (3,500 tons), South Korea (800 tons), Canada (600 tons), and Taiwan (600 tons), with cancelations by Mexico (700 tons) and Chile (100 tons). Shipments of 14,000 tons were mainly to Japan (3,800 tons), South Korea (3,600 tons), China (2,600 tons), Mexico (1,200 tons), and Taiwan (900 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 30,300 tons. The listed purchasers were Mexico (11,700 tons), South Korea (5,000 tons), Japan (4,100 tons), Canada (2,300 tons), and the Dominican Republic (2,200 tons). Shipments of 38,200 tons were primarily to Mexico (16,300 tons), Japan (4,900 tons), China (4,000 tons), South Korea (3,900 tons), and Canada (2,300 tons). Sales of 100 tons for 2026 delivery were to Mexico.