US soybean sales surged in late August with China purchasing 972,000 metric tons out of 1.9 million total metric tons sold for the 2026/2027 marketing year, though weekly soybean exports dropped 31% from the previous week according to USDA data.
- China's soybean purchase: 972,000 metric tons of the 1,948,400 MT in net sales for 2026/2027 marketing year
- Weekly export decline: Soybean exports fell 31% from prior week to 311,800 MT, with Mexico leading destinations at 83,600 MT
- Mixed commodity results: Corn exports rose 8% to 1,570,200 MT while soybean meal hit marketing-year low at 29,400 MT
- Livestock strength: Beef sales jumped 41% and cattle hide exports surged 53% from previous week
- Mexico's dominance: Mexico remained top destination across corn, wheat, and pork exports
U.S. agricultural exporters reported strong soybean sales and mixed results for other commodities during the week ending Aug. 27, according to the Weekly Export Sales Report from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Net soybean sales for the 2026/2027 marketing year totaled 1,948,400 metric tons, with China accounting for 972,000 MT of that volume. Unknown destinations purchased 669,000 MT, while Egypt bought 207,000 MT. The sales were partially offset by a 72,000 MT reduction for Venezuela.
However, soybean exports for the week dropped 31% from the previous week and 15% from the prior four-week average, reaching 311,800 MT. Mexico led destinations with 83,600 MT, followed by Algeria, Egypt, Spain and Taiwan.
Corn sales painted a more complex picture. Exporters reported net sales reductions of 829,600 MT for the current 2025/2026 marketing year, driven largely by a 721,400 MT decrease for unknown destinations and a 360,500 MT reduction for Japan. But new sales for 2026/2027 reached 1,986,400 MT, with Mexico purchasing 665,000 MT and Japan buying 371,800 MT.
Corn exports climbed 8% from the previous week to 1,570,200 MT, though they remained 12% below the prior four-week average. Mexico again dominated with 539,000 MT, followed by South Korea, Spain, Colombia and Japan.
Wheat performance was solid but unremarkable. Net sales of 313,500 MT for 2026/2027 fell 22% from the previous week. Mexico purchased 80,400 MT, the Philippines bought 57,100 MT, and Egypt ordered 35,000 MT. Exports rose 11% from the previous week to 474,800 MT, primarily going to Taiwan, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and Italy.
Soybean meal sales hit a marketing-year low of 29,400 MT for 2025/2026, dropping 72% from the previous week and 68% from the four-week average. New sales for 2026/2027 reached 701,900 MT, with unknown destinations, the Netherlands, Germany, Venezuela and the Philippines as top buyers.
In livestock products, pork sales totaled 35,000 MT, down 10% from the previous week but up 8% from the four-week average. Mexico purchased 17,800 MT, while China bought 5,900 MT. Beef sales increased 41% from the previous week to 12,900 MT, with South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan as primary buyers.
Cattle hide exports surged 53% from the previous week to 322,700 whole hides, with China receiving 200,100 pieces and Mexico taking 49,200 pieces.
