By John Perkins.

There were a few bright spots in a generally slow week for U.S. export sales. The USDA says beef, rice, sorghum, soybean meal, and soybean oil export sales were up on the week, all seeing generally solid demand from the usual weekly buyers. Other key commodities during the week ending April 3^rd saw declines, including big drops for corn, pork, soybeans, and wheat. Export demand is influenced by a number of factors, including the value of the dollar and geopolitics issues, such as tariff tensions.

Physical shipments of corn and soybeans were more than 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 107,300 tons (3.9 million bushels), down 68% from the week ending March 27^th and 56% from the four-week average. Unknown destinations purchased 92,800 tons and Nigeria bought 40,000 tons, but Panama canceled on 157,400 tons. At this point in the 2024/25 marketing year, wheat exports are 784.4 million bushels, compared to 691.8 million in 2023/24. Sales of 107,700 tons (4 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were mainly to Japan (64,200 tons) and Mexico (22,500 tons).

Corn was reported at 785,600 tons (30.9 million bushels), 33% lower than both the previous week and the four-week average. South Korea picked up 204,200 tons and Colombia purchased 196,700 tons. Over the halfway point of the marketing year, corn exports are 2.166 billion bushels, compared to 1.739 billion a year ago. Sales of 236,200 tons (9.3 million bushels) for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (226,200 tons) and Japan (10,000 tons).

Sorghum sales of 22,600 tons (900,000 bushels) were 16% more than the week before, but 2% less than the four-week average. Mexico bought 22,500 tons and Japan picked up 9,800 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 10,000 tons. Sorghum exports are 52.9 million bushels, compared to 198.5 million this time last year.

Rice sales of 34,700 tons were 4% above the prior week, but 26% below the four-week average. Haiti purchased 15,200 tons and Japan bought 7,200 tons. Rice exports are 2,661,000 tons, compared to 2,920,400 a year ago.

Soybeans were pegged at 172,300 tons (6.3 million bushels), a decrease of 58% on the week and 63% on the year. China picked up 141,300 tons and the Netherlands purchased 69,700 tons, but unknown destinations canceled on 256,700 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.703 billion bushels, compared to 1.499 billion last year.

Soybean meal came out at 276,000 tons, a big improvement from the previous week and 76% larger than the four-week average. The Philippines bought 137,700 tons and Colombia picked up 47,300 tons. For the marketing year to date, soybean meal exports are 11,711,800 tons, compared to 10,577,100 a year ago. Sales of 11,200 tons for 2025/26 delivery were to Mexico (6,500 tons) and Canada (4,700 tons).

Soybean oil was reported at 20,200 tons, up 46% from the week before, but down 50% from the four-week average. The Dominican Republic purchased 12,500 tons and Mexico bought 3,000 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 945,100 tons, compared to 87,800 last year.

Upland cotton was pegged at 115,100 bales, falling 11% from the prior week and 22% from the four-week average. Vietnam picked up 64,800 bales and Turkey purchased 19,100 bales. 2024/25 upland cotton exports are 10,553,200 bales, compared to 10,971,100 in 2023/24. Sales of 18,900 bales for 2025/26 delivery were primarily to Honduras (6,600 bales) and Vietnam (6,600 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 11,900 tons, an increase of 28% on the week and 14% from the four-week average. The listed buyers were South Korea (4,900 tons), Japan (3,300 tons), Mexico (1,100 tons), Taiwan (1,000 tons), and Hong Kong (600 tons), with a net reduction by China (100 tons). Shipments of 15,100 tons were 1% higher than the previous week and unchanged from the four-week average, mostly to South Korea (5,500 tons), Japan (4,000 tons), China (1,600 tons), Mexico (1,200 tons), and Taiwan (1,000 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 23,900 tons, a drop of 55% from the week before and 23% from the four-week average. The reported purchasers were Mexico (8,900 tons), Japan (3,600 tons), South Korea (3,200 tons), Colombia (2,200 tons), and Australia (1,700 tons), with a net reduction by Canada (100 tons). Shipments of 30,100 tons were 9% lower than the prior week and 8% less than the four-week average, mainly to Mexico (11,700 tons), Japan (4,500 tons), South Korea (4,400 tons), China (2,500 tons), and Colombia (1,900 tons).

Published Date: April 10, 2025