Higher corn sales have pushed the ag export forecast up by half a billion dollars since November.
These brand new numbers from USDA show that despite the gain, it is still below last year’s levels.
The Department predicts ag exports this year will be around $170 billion, which is up by half a billion since USDA’s November report, but down more than two percent from last year.
Corn exports came in higher than expected after higher volumes and unit values, and ag imports are projected at $220 million this year, a six percent jump over 2024.
Newly confirmed U.S. Trade Rep Jamieson Greer has said he will make enforcement a key tool in his trade agenda, hoping to level the playing field for U.S. producers.
Related Stories
Global pork production is expected to rise in the first half of 2026, despite trade volatility stemming from shifting import policies and swine disease pressures.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
Strong rail demand and higher fuel costs raise transportation risk even as barge and export flows stabilize.
Traders say that shift could eventually prompt the USDA to scale back soybean export projections, noting the outlook differs greatly for other grain commodities.
Often overlooked, cotton wholesalers act as stabilizers during market stress, translating fragmented retail demand into workable production programs for mills and manufacturers.
Early indications suggest the U.S. cattle industry may be nearing the end of its liquidation phase. Oklahoma State University livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel says the industry could be at or near the cyclical low.
