U.S. corn export sales rose 14 percent while soybean sales surged significantly during the week ending June 12, according to the latest Export Sales Highlights report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Net corn sales totaled 903,800 metric tons for the 2024/2025 marketing year, showing improvement from the previous week but remaining 6 percent below the prior four-week average. Japan was the top buyer with 366,200 metric tons, followed by Mexico with 209,000 metric tons and South Korea with 191,000 metric tons.
Soybean sales climbed to 539,500 metric tons for 2024/2025, posting significant gains over both the previous week and the four-week average. Germany led purchases with 122,900 metric tons, while Mexico secured 101,700 metric tons.
"The increases in corn and soybean sales reflect continued strong demand from key international markets despite ongoing global market volatility," said a market analyst familiar with the export data.
Meanwhile, rice sales hit a marketing-year low of 9,800 metric tons, plummeting 80 percent from the previous week and 82 percent from the prior four-week average. Nicaragua was the primary buyer with 5,100 metric tons.
Wheat sales for the 2025/2026 marketing year reached 427,200 metric tons, with Taiwan purchasing 95,500 metric tons and the Philippines securing 89,600 metric tons. These gains were partially offset by reductions for unknown destinations of 85,500 metric tons.
In the protein sector, pork export sales jumped significantly to 28,200 metric tons compared to the previous week, with Mexico accounting for more than half of the total at 16,200 metric tons. Beef sales declined 24 percent to 11,700 metric tons, with Japan and South Korea remaining the top destinations.
Cotton sales of 83,200 running bales for 2024/2025 increased 38 percent from the previous week but fell 23 percent below the four-week average. Vietnam was the primary buyer with 49,400 running bales.
Sorghum sales totaled 50,800 metric tons, down 44 percent from the previous week but 64 percent above the four-week average, with all sales destined for Mexico.
The USDA report also showed that soybean cake and meal sales decreased 25 percent to 160,300 metric tons, while hides and skins sales increased 22 percent to 354,000 pieces, primarily to China.
