USDA’s latest export sales report, out Thursday morning and covering the week through April 30, didn’t have a lot of bullish data points for traders to ponder. In particular, old crop soybean sales tapped a new marketing-year low, with slim new crop sales barely adding to the bottom line. Old crop wheat sales were also lackluster after stumbling 65% lower week-over-week. Corn sales were also down but continued to show relatively strong results.
Corn exports notched 53.6 million bushels in old crop sales plus another 4.8 million bushels in new crop sales for a total volume of 58.4 million bushels. Old crop sales eased 4% below the prior four-week average and were slightly on the lower end of analyst estimates, which ranged between 39.4 million and 70.9 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year have now topped 3 billion bushels after reaching 3.034 billion.
Corn export shipments improved 28% week-over-week and were 18% above the prior four-week average, with 81.0 million bushels. Mexico was the top destination, with 18.5 million bushels, followed by Japan, Colombia, Taiwan and South Korea.
Sorghum exports did not find any additional exports last week. Export shipments reached 5.6 million bushels, which tracked 15% below the prior four-week average. That grain is bound for China and Japan.
Old crop soybean exports fell to a marketing-year low of 5.2 million bushels, and new crop sales only chipped in another 202,000 bushels, for a total volume of 5.4 million bushels. Old crop sales were below the entire range of analyst estimates, which came in between 7.3 million and 18.4 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year have now reached 1.423 billion bushels.
Soybean export shipments were more robust, at 19.5 million bushels, but that was still 25% below the prior four-week average. China was the No. 1 destination, with 7.4 million bushels, followed by Mexico, Japan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Wheat exports tallied 2.9 million bushels in old crop sales and 6.9 million bushels in new crop sales for a total volume of 9.8 million bushels last week. Old crop sales stumbled 45% below the prior four-week average, but it should also be noted that the current marketing year wraps up at the end of this month. Old crop sales were also below the entire set of trade guesses, which ranged between 3.7 million and 11.0 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are still in relatively good shape after reaching 909.8 million bushels.
Wheat export shipments improved 20% versus the prior four-week average after reaching 17.4 million bushels. Mexico was the No. 1 destination, with 6.7 million bushels, followed by Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and the Dominican Republic.
Click here for more highlights from today’s USDA export sales report.