U.S. corn export sales for the 2025/2026 marketing year jumped to nearly 1.9 million metric tons last week, while pork sales reached their highest level in over a month, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture weekly Export Sales Report released Thursday.
The export sales report, covering the period from July 18-24, 2025, showed strong international demand for U.S. agricultural products despite mixed performance across commodities.
South Korea emerged as a major buyer, purchasing 467,000 metric tons of corn for the 2025/2026 marketing year. Mexico secured 388,300 metric tons of corn and 213,200 metric tons of soybeans for next year’s delivery, positioning it as one of the top U.S. agricultural trading partners.
“Unknown destinations,” a designation often used when buyers wish to remain anonymous or haven’t finalized shipping details, accounted for 657,700 metric tons of corn and 191,500 metric tons of soybean sales for the 2025/2026 marketing year.
Pork export sales surged to 39,500 metric tons for 2025, up 85 percent from the prior four-week average. Mexico led purchases with 23,100 metric tons, followed by Japan with 8,100 metric tons.
Wheat sales totaled 592,100 metric tons for the 2025/2026 marketing year, down 17 percent from the previous week but unchanged from the prior four-week average. The Philippines, Ecuador, and Mexico were among the top buyers.
Soybean cake and meal sales reached a marketing-year low of 77,100 metric tons, down 58 percent from the previous week and 71 percent from the prior four-week average.
Cotton sales showed mixed results, with upland cotton sales for 2024/2025 down significantly from the previous week but substantially higher than the prior four-week average. Vietnam led purchases with 27,100 running bales.
Beef export sales declined 49 percent from the previous week to 8,500 metric tons, with Japan, Canada, and South Korea as the primary destinations.
The report also highlighted notable daily sales transactions, including 275,000 metric tons of corn to South Korea and 142,500 metric tons of soybeans to Mexico for the 2025/2026 marketing year.
Actual exports during the reporting period showed 1.49 million metric tons of corn shipped, primarily to Japan and Mexico, representing a 41 percent increase from the previous week and 10 percent above the four-week average.
The weekly export sales report serves as a key indicator of international demand for U.S. agricultural products and global market trends.
