USDA’s latest export report, out Thursday morning and covering the week through March 5, held mixed but mostly positive data for traders to digest. Wheat sales moved noticeably higher, besting the entire range of analyst estimates. Corn sales were relatively strong but trended slightly below the prior four-week average. And soybean sales were largely lackluster, although China continues to show up as one of the top buyers.
Corn exports found 60.3 million bushels in old crop sales, plus an additional 20,000 bushels of new crop sales last week. Old crop sales shifted 24% lower week-over-week and eased 2% below the prior four-week average. Total sales were near the middle of analyst estimates, which ranged between 31.5 million and 86.6 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are still 32% above last year’s pace after reaching 1.643 billion bushels.
Corn export shipments inched 1% above the prior four-week average, with 67.4 million bushels. Mexico, Colombia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines were the top five destinations.
Sorghum exports improved 12% above the prior four-week average, with 3.9 million bushels. That grain is bound for China, Spain, Mexico and Japan. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year has more than doubled last year’s pace so far after reaching 94.0 million bushels.
Soybean exports saw 16.8 million bushels in old crop sales plus another 350,000 bushels in new crop sales last week. Old crop sales improved 19% week-over-week but were still down 2% from the prior four-week average. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are 19% below the prior year’s pace after reaching 997.5 million bushels.
Soybean export shipments faded 9% below the prior four-week average, with 36.6 million bushels. China, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico and Colombia were the top five destinations.
Old crop wheat exports jumped 49% above the prior four-week average after reaching 16.7 million bushels. New crop sales added another 1.5 million bushels. Total sales were above the entire set of trade guesses, which ranged between 7.3 million and 16.5 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are tracking 12% above last year’s pace after reaching 688.7 million bushels.
Wheat export shipments were 24% higher week-over-week but 2% below the prior four-week average, with 15.9 million bushels. China, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan and Venezuela were the top five destinations.
Click here for more highlights from today’s USDA export sales report.