By John Perkins.

The USDA’s reporting good export sales for a few key commodities during the week ending April 10^th. Corn and soybean export sales both saw week-to-week improvements, with Mexico the leading buyer for both, and beef was up on the week, with Japan topping the list. Cotton sales were also above a week ago, with Vietnam purchasing nearly half of the total. Export demand is influenced by a number of factors, including the value of the dollar and geopolitical issues, like tariffs. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand estimates is out May 12^th.

Physical shipments of corn and soybeans were more than what’s needed to meet USDA projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year got underway 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 76,500 tons (2.8 million bushels), down 29% from the week ending April 3^rd, but up 2% from the four-week average. The Dominican Republic purchased 30,700 tons and Venezuela bought 25,800 tons, with a handful of cancelations led by unknown destinations at 44,200 tons. Approaching the final month of the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 787.2 million bushels, compared to 688.4 million in 2023/24. Sales of 273,900 tons (10.1 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were mainly to Mexico (142,300 tons) and Japan (58,900 tons).

Corn was reported at 1,561,900 tons (61.5 million bushels), 99% higher than the previous week and 39% above the four-week average. Mexico picked up 401,500 tons and Japan purchased 263,300 tons. At this point in the marketing year, corn exports are 2.228 billion bushels, compared to 1.759 billion this time last year. Sales of 10,000 tons (400,000 bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico.

Sorghum sales of 11,500 tons (500,000 bushels) were 49% lower than the week before and 44% below the four-week average, all to Mexico. Sorghum exports are 53.4 million bushels, compared to 198.4 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 15,000 tons were a decline of 57% from the prior week and 69% from the four-week average. Mexico bought 10,400 tons and Haiti picked up 7,100 tons. Rice exports are 2,676,000 tons, compared to 2,926,300 last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 554,800 tons (20.4 million bushels), rising sharply on the week and 74% from the four-week average. Mexico purchased 156,800 tons and the Netherlands bought 127,100 tons, but unknown destinations canceled on 170,000 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.719 billion bushels, compared to 1.516 billion a year ago. Sales of 181,800 tons (6.7 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were primarily to unknown destinations (181,000 tons).

Soybean meal came out at 146,200 tons, falling 47% from the previous week and 18% from the four-week average. Panama picked up 46,700 tons and Colombia purchased 29,900 tons. For the marketing year to date, soybean meal exports are 11,858,100 tons, compared to 10,706,800 last year. Sales of 8,800 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Vietnam (5,000 tons) and Mexico (3,800 tons).

Soybean oil was reported at 10,300 tons, a drop of 49% from the week before and 64% from the four-week average. Mexico bought 6,300 tons and the Dominican Republic picked up 2,100 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 955,400 tons, compared to 88,000 a year ago. Sales of 2,200 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico.

Upland cotton was pegged at 202,000 bales, an increase of 76% from the prior week and 88% from the four-week average. Vietnam purchased 90,900 bales and India bought 35,300 bales. 2024/25 upland cotton exports are 10,755,200 bales, compared to 11,117,200 in 2023/24. Sales of 65,900 bales were mostly to Pakistan (21,500 bales) and Vietnam (11,700 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 17,500 tons, an increase of 48% on the week and 78% from the four-week average. The listed buyers were Japan (7,700 tons), South Korea (3,700 tons), Mexico (2,100 tons), Taiwan (1,300 tons), and Canada (900 tons). Shipments of 14,600 tons were down 3% from the previous week and 2% from the four-week average, mainly to South Korea (5,600 tons), Japan (3,500 tons), China (1,400 tons), Mexico (1,400 tons), and Taiwan (1,100 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 20,500 tons, a decrease of 14% from the week before and 35% from the four-week average. The reported purchasers were Japan (7,100 tons), Mexico (3,200 tons), South Korea (2,300 tons), Colombia (2,100 tons), and Canada (1,900 tons). Shipments of 30,900 tons were 3% more than the prior week, but 3% less than the four-week average, primarily to Mexico (11,100 tons), South Korea (5,300 tons), Japan (4,400 tons), China (2,900 tons), and Colombia (2,000 tons).

Published Date: April 18, 2025