WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — U.S. grain exports showed a mixed picture last week, with corn and wheat shipments holding strong while soybeans slowed and sorghum continued to lag. The USDA’s Weekly Export Inspections Report highlights steady overseas demand for corn and wheat, but weaker soybean loadings ahead of harvest and reduced interest in sorghum.
At the same time, growers are keeping a close watch on the grain transportation network, where low Mississippi River levels could shift more movement to rail despite historically low freight rates.
USDA Weekly Grain Exports Show Mixed Movement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Weekly Export Inspections Report for the week ending September 18 showed mixed grain movement. Total exports reached 2.70 million metric tons, down from 3.13 million last week but above the 2.45 million reported a year earlier.
Corn led the pace at 1.33 million tons (52.3 million bushels), down slightly from the previous week but well above the same period last year. Year-to-date corn shipments stand at 3.49 million tons (137.4 million bushels) compared with 2.20 million a year ago.
Private exporters also reported a flash sale of 320,068 metric tons of corn (12.6 million bushels) to Mexico for delivery in the 2025/26 marketing year, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service announced Monday.
Arlan Suderman with StoneX notes that over the past three trading sessions, the USDA has announced 25 million bushels of flash corn sales to Mexico or unknown destinations, which has helped propel early marketing-year sales above last year’s pace.
Soybean inspections slowed to 484,000 tons (17.8 million bushels), a sharp decline from 822,000 last week and just under last year’s pace. Still, cumulative exports remain ahead of 2024 totals at 1.57 million tons (57.7 million bushels).
Wheat inspections totaled 854,000 tons (31.4 million bushels), stronger than both last week and last year, with Pacific Northwest ports leading shipments to Asian and Middle Eastern destinations.
Sorghum movement lagged at 30,600 tons (1.2 million bushels), reflecting weaker demand compared with last year.
Overall, the data suggest solid demand for U.S. corn and wheat, but highlight softer soybean loadings ahead of harvest and continued weakness in sorghum exports.
Harvest Outlook: All Eyes On Grain Transportation Network
As the fall harvest progresses, many producers are closely monitoring the grain transportation network. While grain freight rates are at six-year lows, low water on the Mississippi River could push more grain back to rail as the season progresses.
Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report with some industry insight. In an interview with RFD-TV News, Steenhoek discussed the impact that slow soybean exports have on freight costs and how “rail readiness” is becoming an increasingly important factor as harvest season ramps up, and provided an update on barge grain movements and current river levels along the Mississippi River.
Steenhoek also discussed the mounting challenges soybean growers are facing, including large yields and China’s continued absence from trade, and whether this will impact grain storage capacity issues. Lastly, he provided tips that growers and shippers should be implementing now, as well as things the industry should keep an eye on moving forward.
