The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest export sales report for the week ending February 13, 2025, reveals a complex picture for American agricultural commodities. The data highlights significant movements across key crops, reflecting the dynamic nature of global agricultural markets.
Corn exports emerged as a bright spot, with shipments reaching a marketing-year high of 1,606,200 metric tons (MT), up 19% from the previous week. Mexico, Japan, and South Korea were the top destinations. However, net sales for corn declined 12% from the previous week to 1,453,800 MT.
Wheat sales faced headwinds, dropping 7% to 532,700 MT, despite remaining 31% above the four-week average. Mexico led purchases with 147,300 MT, followed by Japan and Chile. Exports plummeted 60% to 232,700 MT, signaling potential challenges in the wheat market.
Soybean performance showed improvement, with net sales of 480,300 MT marking a notable increase from the previous week. China remained the top buyer, securing 101,200 MT. However, exports declined 33% to 741,000 MT, indicating ongoing volatility in the soybean trade.
Cotton sales demonstrated strength, with Upland cotton net sales rising 28% to 312,500 running bales (RB). Vietnam, Pakistan, and Turkey were the primary purchasers. Exports hit a marketing-year high of 298,300 RB, up 14% from the previous week.
The report also noted significant movements in other commodities:
- Rice net sales surged 63% to 73,200 MT, with Japan as the top buyer.
- Beef sales increased 64% to 21,500 MT, primarily driven by demand from Japan and South Korea.
- Pork sales rose slightly by 3% to 25,600 MT, with Mexico leading purchases.
These fluctuations in export sales and shipments underscore the complex factors influencing U.S. agricultural trade, including global demand shifts, competitive pressures, and evolving market dynamics.
