USDA’s latest export sales report, out Thursday morning and covering the week through March 19, held mixed but mostly bullish data for traders to digest. Corn led the way once more in total volume, staying toward the higher end of analyst estimates. Soybeans jumped ahead of all trade guesses, meantime, while wheat posted solid results.
Corn exports posted 47.9 million bushels in old crop sales last week, plus another 5.3 million bushels in new crop sales for a total of 53.2 million bushels. Old crop sales inched 4% higher week-over-week but were 10% below the prior four-week average. Total sales were toward the higher end of analyst estimates, which ranged between 27.6 million and 63.0 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year remain 30% ahead of last year’s pace after reaching 1.777 billion bushels.
Corn export shipments eased 5% below the prior four-week average, with 66.1 million bushels. Mexico (15.6 million bushels) was the No. 1 destination, followed by Japan, Colombia, Spain and the Dominican Republic.
Sorghum export sales tumbled 89% below the prior four-week average to around 153,000 bushels. Increases to China, Mexico and Japan were largely erased by reductions to unknown destinations. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are still more than doubling last year’s pace after reaching 109.5 million bushels.
Soybean exports gathered 25.6 million bushels in combined old and new crop sales last week. Old crop sales climbed 89% above the prior four-week average, with China showing up more actively. Total sales bested the entire set of trade guesses, which ranged between 7.3 million and 22.0 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are trending 18% below last year’s pace after reaching 1.073 billion bushels.
Soybean export shipments were 45% better than the prior four-week average after reaching 49.4 million bushels. China was by far the top destination, with 24.5 million bushels, followed by Germany, Egypt, Mexico and Japan.
Wheat exports found 22.2 million bushels in combined old and new crop sales last week. Old crop sales climbed 46% ahead of the prior four-week average. Total sales were on the very high end of analyst estimates, which ranged between 3.7 million and 25.7 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2025-26 marketing year are 15% above last year’s pace so far after reaching 716.9 million bushels.
Wheat export shipments were steady week-over-week and down 10% from the prior four-week average, with 14.1 million bushels. Mexico was the No. 1 destination, with 3.8 million bushels, followed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan.
Click here for more highlights from today’s USDA export sales report.