Corn Export Inspections Ease While Sorghum Stays Strong

Weekly export movement stayed solid, with corn and sorghum continuing to show the strongest overall pace.

shipping containers import export tariffs_Photo by Ralf Gosch via AdobeStock_91592445.png

Photo by Ralf Gosch via Photo by Ralf Gosch via AdobeStock

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The latest grain export inspections report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed a mixed week for grain movement, with corn, soybeans, and wheat all moving lower than the previous week, while sorghum remained sharply above year-ago levels. The report offers another snapshot of how demand is lining up late in the marketing year.

Corn inspections for the week ending April 23 reached about 64.7 million bushels. That was down from roughly 68.6 million the week before and just below the 65.6 million bushels inspected during the same week last year.

Soybean inspections totaled about 23.1 million bushels, down from 27.8 million the previous week but still well above 16.9 million a year earlier. Wheat inspections came in near 13.4 million bushels, down from 19.0 million the week before and below 23.9 million last year.

Sorghum inspections reached about 7.1 million bushels. That was lower than the prior week’s 8.0 million, but far above just 900,000 bushels during the same week last year.

Marketing-year movement remains supportive for some crops. Corn, sorghum, and wheat inspections are running well ahead of last year, while soybean totals continue to reflect lighter trade with China.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Weekly export movement stayed solid, with corn and sorghum continuing to show the strongest overall pace.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Related Stories
China’s grain expansion model may be hitting its limit. Lower prices, high rents, and policy fatigue threaten future output — with ripple effects across global feed and oilseed markets.
High milk production and soft retail demand are squeezing prices and margins — making careful feed and risk management essential through year-end.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) shares his outlook on the developing U.S.-China Trade agreement, and the ongoing impact of the federal government shutdown—now stretching past four weeks—on rural communities and producers.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss what the Carney-Xi meeting could mean for Canadian producers.
Market analyst and friend of the show, Shawn Hackett, says Brazil’s shifting use of crops for biofuel production is a significant factor.
Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA), shares his reaction to news of soybean sales to China, which is considered both “welcome news” and a return to near-normal trade relations.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The USDA NASS report also confirms lower August placements.
Producers and processors should watch trade policy closely as tariff impacts ripple through seafood markets.
While symbolic, the WTO’s youth hackathon reflects growing calls for creative approaches to food trade and security, with potential implications for reducing losses, expanding biofuel markets, and stabilizing grain flows.
Ethanol producers face a widening opportunity window as aviation and marine fuel markets expand, with the potential to add billions in demand if policy and certification align.
All eyes will be on today’s Cattle on Feed Report, which analysts say could give a clearer picture of where the market goes next.
Corn and beef exports showed strong momentum, cotton sales surged, and soybean sales held steady, though China remains absent from the U.S. market.