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
Record crops are increasing grain storage needs, prompting safety experts to remind producers of the risk of grain bin entrapment during harvest.
The impacts of the government shutdown have reached commodity growers with crops to move, ag economists monitoring the harvest without key data reporting, and meat producers in need of new export markets.
In a statement provided to RFD-TV News, a USDA spokesperson reiterated President Trump and the USDA’s commitment to farmers in difficult economic times.
Support policies that keep U.S. biofuels at the table—marine demand could materially lift corn grind, crush margins, and rural jobs.
China is not one of our top suppliers of cooking oil, according to USDA ERS data, but does export a lot of used cooking oil to the U.S. for biofuel production.
Industry leaders say $11 billion in new investments could turn the tide as dairy producers face shrinking margins and growing uncertainty.

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:

Aimee Bissell discusses Iowa planting progress, weather conditions, fertilizer costs, and concerns over early crop development.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses SDRP payment limits and offers advice for those seeking higher limits.
Farmers are closely watching upcoming U.S.-China trade talks as rising fertilizer and diesel costs continue to pressure exports, margins, and rural economies.
Dr. David Anderson says lean beef demand and lighter cow culling are still giving cull cow prices room to push higher.
Stronger overseas demand for both fuel ethanol and feed co-products continues to reinforce corn use beyond the domestic market.
The inverted Choice-Select spread is not a strong warning sign in today’s tighter, higher-quality beef market, according to new analysis from Terrain.