U.S. corn export sales saw a significant increase in the week ending May 1, 2025, while soybean exports dropped to a marketing-year low, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report. Wheat sales showed a mixed performance.
Corn net sales for the 2024/2025 marketing year reached 1,662,500 metric tons (MT), a 64% jump from the previous week and 47% above the prior 4-week average. Key buyers included:
- Japan (338,500 MT, including 190,700 MT switched from unknown destinations)
- Taiwan (283,400 MT, including 68,000 MT switched from unknown destinations)
- Spain (240,500 MT)
- Unknown destinations (162,400 MT)
- Colombia (134,600 MT)
Corn exports totaled 1,819,500 MT, up 14% from the previous week and 5% from the prior 4-week average. Primary destinations were Mexico (668,500 MT), Japan (396,800 MT), and Colombia (190,000 MT). Additionally, net sales of 18,000 MT for 2025/2026 were reported for Mexico and Nicaragua.
Soybeans experienced a downturn in exports, which hit a marketing-year low of 258,300 MT. This figure was down 56% from the previous week and 59% from the prior 4-week average. Top export destinations included China (68,100 MT), Japan (59,900 MT), and Mexico (53,300 MT). Net soybean sales for 2024/2025 were 376,700 MT, down 12% from the previous week but up 11% from the prior 4-week average. Major increases were for Mexico (153,800 MT) and unknown destinations (129,800 MT). Net sales of 9,800 MT for 2025/2026 were for Mexico. An export adjustment noted that accumulated soybean exports to Switzerland were revised down by 70,547 MT for the week ending October 24 due to a reporting error.
Wheat net sales for 2024/2025 totaled 69,700 MT, a 3% decrease from the previous week but a noticeable increase from the prior 4-week average. Primary buyers included Mexico (37,300 MT) and the Philippines (24,500 MT). Net sales for the 2025/2026 marketing year were strong at 493,000 MT, primarily for unknown destinations (183,500 MT) and South Korea (100,800 MT). Wheat exports stood at 493,500 MT, unchanged from the previous week but 10% higher than the prior 4-week average. Top destinations were Mexico (158,500 MT), the Philippines (118,500 MT), and Thailand (58,100 MT).
Other commodity highlights from the report include:
- Soybean Cake and Meal: Net sales for 2024/2025 were 111,900 MT, down 65% from the previous week and 51% from the prior 4-week average. Exports of 237,900 MT were down 18% from the previous week. Accumulated exports of soybean cake and meal to Sri Lanka were adjusted down 863 MT due to a reporting error.
- Soybean Oil: Net sales for 2024/2025 were 14,600 MT, up 78% from the previous week. Exports totaled 35,300 MT, down 13% from the prior week.
- Sorghum: Net sales for 2024/2025 were 33,100 MT, with increases for Mexico and Japan. Exports of 22,900 MT went to Mexico.
- Rice: Net sales for 2024/2025 were 58,200 MT, a noticeable increase from the previous week and the prior 4-week average. Exports totaled 43,100 MT.
- Barley: No net sales for 2024/2025 were reported. Exports of 700 MT went to Japan and Canada.
The USDA also reported daily export sales for the period ending May 1, 2025, which included:
- 120,000 MT of corn to Spain for 2024/2025.
- 120,000 MT of corn to unknown destinations for 2024/2025.
- 110,000 MT of soybeans to unknown destinations for 2024/2025.
