Corn Export Sales Lead Weekly Report as Soybeans Slow, Cotton Stays Strong

Corn and cotton gave the strongest signals this week, while soybean demand remained softer than in the previous report.

WASHINGTON, D..C. (RFD NEWS) — Corn led the latest weekly export sales report, while soybean sales softened and cotton shipments stayed active. USDA said buyers booked about 62.9 million bushels of old-crop corn during the week ending April 23, up 21 percent from the previous week, while corn exports reached 63.4 million bushels.

Soybean sales came in lower. Old-crop soybean bookings totaled about 9.5 million bushels, down 29 percent from the previous week, while exports reached 22.4 million bushels. Wheat sales improved to 8.3 million bushels for the current marketing year, with another 5.8 million bushels booked for 2026-27. Wheat exports totaled 15.1 million bushels.

Sorghum remained a China-centered story. Sales were about 500,000 bushels, but exports were much stronger at 7.5 million bushels. Rice sales totaled 39,000 metric tons, with exports at 83,600 metric tons.

Cotton also posted solid movement. Upland cotton sales reached 162,900 bales for 2025-26, with another 105,700 bales sold for 2026-27. Exports totaled 384,600 bales, led by Vietnam, Pakistan, Turkey, India, and Bangladesh.

Soybean meal was one of the stronger product categories. Sales reached 294,900 metric tons, and exports totaled 387,200 metric tons, while pork sales rose to 46,300 metric tons and beef sales to 13,800 metric tons.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Corn and cotton gave the strongest signal this week, while soybean demand stayed softer than the previous report.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist

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:

Even in this strong market, some beef producers are leaving money on the table by not following proven marketing practices.
Treat storage as risk management and logistics, and budget to break even since export growth is unlikely to absorb bigger U.S. corn and soybean crops.
For rural borrowers, freeing up community-bank balance sheets could mean steadier home loans, operating lines, and ag real-estate financing as winter planning ramps up.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is urging Congress and the Trump Administration to act quickly on behalf of American agriculture.
Better yield measurement means fairer grids, more precise breeding targets, and more dollars for truly efficient cattle.
Escalating U.S.–China tensions threaten soybean demand as farm finances are stretched further.