US soy, corn sales robust to start 2026-27

: Agriculture
26/09/11

US net export sales of both soybeans and corn for 2026-27 reached multi-year highs during the early days of the new marketing year that began 1 September, according to US Department of Agriculture data.

Net soybean sales for 2026-27 totaled 2.64mn metric tonnes (t) during the week ended 3 September, the second-largest volume for the start of a marketing year and the most for the week since 2020. China led the new commitments, picking up another 1.22mn t, while Indonesia added 222,000t and Mexico 169,000t.

Total 2026-27 soybean commitments rose to 18.9mn t, the most for the start of a marketing year since 2022.

Net sales for 2025-26 were negative again during the week at -175,000t, lowering total commitments to 41.7mn t but remaining ahead of USDA expectations for 41.4mn t.

For corn, net sales for the start of 2026-27 marketing year reached a record 1.93mn t. Mexico added 861,000t in corn commitments, while Japan and Colombia picked up 294,000t and 174,000t, respectively.

Even with the large volume of sales for the week, total commitments for the marketing year reached just 16.4mn t, down from 22.6mn t for the same week last year.

Net corn sales for 2025-26 totaled 79,800t during the week ended 3 September, pushing total commitments to 87mn t for the year. in line with the newly-revised USDA export estimate.

Wheat

US net wheat export sales totaled 194,000t during the week ended 3 September, down from 305,000t in the same week last year.

The Philippines was the most active buyer, adding 88,000t during the week, while Ecuador and Mexico added 30,000t and 28,000t, respectively.

Total wheat export commitments rose to 8.77mn t, equivalent to 42pc of USDA forecasts for the 2026-27 marketing year and slightly behind the five-year average sales pace of 45pc.

By Joseph Crosby

US corn export sales mn t

US soybean export sales mn t

US wheat export sales mn t

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

26/09/14

Early Ukraine spring crop harvest lags 2025

Kyiv, 14 September (Argus) — Ukraine's spring crop harvests remained slower than a year earlier, while sunflower seed and soybean harvests made good progress this week. Ukraine's corn harvesting remained slow as of 14 September, preliminary agriculture ministry data show, with just 34,820 hectares (ha) cut, about 1pc of the forecast area, despite favourable weather. Farmers have been slow to start harvesting as a result of limited port operations and storage capacity with old crops. The country's average corn yields rose to 4.82 t/ha in the week ending 14 September from 3.59 t/ha a week earlier and 3.55 t/ha a year earlier. The Poltava region is showing good early yields, matching Argus ' virtual corn crop tour, with better conditions reported. Oilseed harvests advanced well on the week thanks to limited rains, with soybeans showing the biggest weekly progress. Both sunflower seed and soybean crops showed better initial yields because summer rains boosted soil moisture and temperatures stayed moderate during growth periods, unlike last season when sunflower was hit by drought. That said, production and yield figures are not yet representative for both oilseed crops. The soybean harvest in Ukraine started a week later this year than last. Farmers have cut 167,510ha, 11pc of the forecast area, as of 14 September. Ukraine's average soybean yields rose to 1.94 t/ha from 1.76 t/ha last week and 1.73 t/ha at the same point last year. Ukraine's sunflower harvest pace has lagged the past five seasons, starting two weeks later than the past two seasons. But the country's initial average sunflower yields have surged sharply above last year's drought-hit campaign, reaching 1.91 t/ha as of 14 September from 1.79 t/ha on average in 2025-26. Good soil moisture supported the yields. Major producing regions Kirovograd, Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava made the biggest progress in sunflower seed harvests. The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wasde report in September left Ukraine's sunflower seed, soybean and corn crop forecasts unchanged at 13mn t, 5mn t and 31.8mn t, respectively, leaving its corn outlook less optimistic than Argus ' forecast of 32.1mn t for 2026-27. Winter crop harvests are almost complete, with only small wheat areas left. The ministry confirmed record wheat yields at 4.94 t/ha, leading to a total wheat output at 24.92mn t from 5,04mn ha, or 98pc of the forecast. Ukraine has finished its barley and rapeseed harvests, with barley yields at a record 4.34 t/ha and rapeseed output at 3.83mn t. The agriculture ministry's preliminary data will be confirmed by the State Statistics Service in later reports. By Kateryna Mudriian Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US inflation holds steady, energy rises in August

26/09/11

News

26/09/11

US inflation holds steady, energy rises in August

Houston, 11 September (Argus) — US headline inflation held steady in August while energy prices ticked up, maintaining pressure on the Federal Reserve for a likely rate hike next week as it battles to stem inflationary pressures uncorked by the Mideast Gulf war. The consumer price index (CPI) rose at an annual 3.4pc pace in August, according to Labor Department data released today. That followed a 3.4pc pace in July that was down from 3.5pc in June. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, eased to a 2.4pc annual pace, compared with a 2.5pc rate in July. "A September rate hike is now very likely, but a tightening cycle looks unwarranted," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note after the report. "We think the most likely outcome is that September's rate hike will be a one-time tightening." Prior to the report, the CME FedWatch tool showed a greater than 70pc probability Federal Reserve policymakers will raise the target rate by a quarter point at its meeting on 16 September. The Fed has kept its target rate unchanged through five meetings this year amid mounting tariff and Gulf war uncertainty after lowering it three times late last year. The energy index rose by an annual 16.3pc in August, compared with 14.7pc in July. Energy commodities rose by 28pc in August compared with 24.7pc in July. Gasoline rose by 27.4pc on the year, up from 24.6pc the prior month. Fuel oil rose by 52pc following a 39.1pc gain in July. Piped gas services rose by 4.4pc on the year, following 4.3pc in July. The food index rose at an annual 2.7pc in August following a 3pc pace in July. Shelter rose at a 3pc pace, slowing from 3.2pc in July. Services less energy services, considered a core reading of service prices, was unchanged at a 3pc pace. New vehicle prices rose by 0.6pc in August on the year, compared with a 0.5pc rate in July, while used vehicles prices fell by 2.4pc in August compared with a 1.9pc decline in July. Medical care services rose at a 2.5pc annual rate in August compared with a 2.7pc pace in July. Transportation services rose by 2.4pc in August, slowing from 2.9pc. Airline fares rose by an annual 23pc in August, compared with 25.5pc the prior month. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4pc in August, after creeping up by 0.1pc in July, while the core index rose by 0.3pc for the month after a 0.2pc gain the month prior. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

August was joint-hottest month on record: EU Copernicus

26/09/10

News

26/09/10

August was joint-hottest month on record: EU Copernicus

London, 10 September (Argus) — Last month was the hottest August globally on record, and tied with July 2023 as the joint-hottest month recorded, data from EU earth-monitoring programme Copernicus show. The global average surface air temperature in August was 16.96°C, 0.85°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.65°C above the pre-industrial average, Copernicus data show. It was the first month since November which was recorded as above 1.5°C higher than the pre-industrial era. The Paris climate agreement seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursues a 1.5°C limit. Western Europe experienced its warmest summer on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2003, Copernicus said. The region recorded "further heatwaves" in August, "continuing an exceptional run of extreme heat that began in May", Copernicus noted. Severe drought conditions were reported across much of Europe, including in France, the UK, Hungary, Romania and Serbia, affecting power output , transport and agriculture. European river flows were "exceptionally low", including for the Rhine , Danube, Southern Bug and Dnieper rivers, Copernicus added. The joint-highest monthly average sea surface temperature for non-polar oceans was recorded in August. It stood at 21.07°C, on par with March 2024, Copernicus said. The highest daily sea surface temperature was also recorded in August, at 21.11°C for non-polar oceans. Ocean temperatures are also extremely high in much of the tropical Pacific, where El Nino conditions "are present and forecast to further strengthen in the coming months", Copernicus said. The current El Nino event is widely expected to be one of the strongest ever recorded. El Nino, a naturally-occurring weather pattern, typically leads to higher global temperatures. Its effects — and those of its opposite pattern, La Nina — vary across regions, but can significantly shift rainfall and temperature patterns. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR

26/09/09

News

26/09/09

US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR

Houston, 9 September (Argus) — US rail carload volumes rose in August to the highest level in nearly eight years while weekly rail traffic rose by nearly 14pc from a year earlier, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. AAR attributed the increases to resilient US consumer demand, higher US manufacturing activity, and rising diesel costs, which have made rail shipments more cost-effective compared with competing transport options such as trucks. Class I railroads shipped 533,545 carloads and intermodal units over the week ended 5 September, up by 14pc compared with the same week last year, AAR said Wednesday. Weekly non-intermodal traffic averaged more than 235,000 railcars in August, the most since October 2019 and the eighth straight year-over-year gain. Railcar growth was broad-based and stretched across 15 of the 20 carload categories that the AAR tracks. On a monthly basis, Class I railroads shipped nearly 300,000 intermodal containers and trailers per week in August, up by more than 4pc from a year earlier and besting the previous record set in June. Combined US carload and intermodal volume in August was the most in nearly eight years, AAR said without providing specifics. Metallic ore shipments posted the biggest percentage gains in August, rising by 19pc from a year earlier, followed by a 16pc increase for coke, a nearly 16pc gain for lumber and wood products and a 9.1pc increase for petroleum products. Chemicals shipments logged the seventh increase in eight months and are on a record annual pace, the AAR said, driven in part to lower US natural gas prices that have incentivized output at petrochemical and other industrial plants. Shipments of grain and coal, the two biggest categories that Class I railroads haul by volume, diverged. Grain shipments grew by 7.8pc in August from a year earlier and were up for the tenth straight month, driven by strong grain exports. Coal volumes in August fell by 2pc from year-earlier levels and were down for the sixth straight month, AAR said. Coal has become a drag on overall rail volumes after driving growth earlier in 2026. Several Class I railroads have attributed falling coal volumes to lower natural gas prices and weaker utility demand. Railed coal traffic has fallen by more than 50pc over the past 20 years but remains the single highest-volume category for most US railroads, AAR said. AAR also pointed to falling inventories of railcars in storage as another sign of strong shipping demand. Stored railcars as a share of total cars in service fell to 18.1pc in August from 21.7pc in January, and more than 59,000 railcars have been taken out of storage over that period, AAR said. By Chris Baltimore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Trump's Canada trade war hits familiar snags

26/09/09

News

26/09/09

Trump's Canada trade war hits familiar snags

Washington, 9 September (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration has dropped punitive tariffs on imported Canadian cement, toilet paper and other products after acknowledging negative impacts on US consumers. But Trump's administration doubled down on confrontation with Ottawa, introducing an outright ban on imports of Canadian alcohol and motorcycles. Trump's conflicts with US foreign trade partners have frequently featured revisions to the lists of affected products after complaints from US consumers and industrial groups. Trump's punitive tariffs on Canada and Ottawa's countermeasures do not apply to energy, potash fertilizer or critical minerals. The US on 22 August began collecting new 50pc tariffs on about $28bn of Canadian imports, including cement, plywood and paper. Trump late on Tuesday ordered modifications to the list of affected products, eliminating the 50pc tariff on Canadian cement, rock salt and toilet paper beginning on 15 September. Trump instead ordered a 50pc tariff on a variety of other Canadian imports, including iron and steel columns and some aluminum byproducts, effective from 15 September. The prohibition on imports of Canadian alcoholic beverages and Canada-manufactured motorcycles will go into effect from 29 September. "Canada walked away from a near-final trade deal that offered better treatment than any other trading partner, and instead Canada chose to embark on senseless retaliation," US trade representative Jamieson Greer said. Canada's retaliatory tariffs on US steel and aluminum went into effect on Tuesday. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has said that trade talks between the two countries collapsed because the US had made unreasonable demands. "They wanted us to become even more reliant on them, not less," he said on Tuesday. Carney said last week he would be ready to resume trade dialogue once the US "starts being serious". The latest trade escalation is taking place as Trump is set to convene an unusual, mid-term Republican party convention in Dallas, Texas, in a bid to shore up his party's fortunes ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. The event, which Republican party officials describe as a "Trump-a-palooza", aims to highlight Trump's economic and geopolitical accomplishments since returning to office last year. "This election comes down to one simple choice: lower costs, lower taxes, secure borders, and common sense," Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters said on 5 September. Less than two months before the elections, polls indicate that Democrats are likely to wrest control of at least one chamber, if not both, in part because of voters' concerns over rising inflation. The US inflation rate earlier this summer reached three-year highs, largely because Trump's war with Iran pushed up US retail fuel prices. US retail gasoline prices averaged $4.16/USG in the week ended on 7 September, up by around 40pc from late February, when the US and Isreal launched an attack on Iran. Higher tariffs have also contributed to an increase in US consumer prices. Higher inflation has undermined Trump's rationale for calling on the US Federal Reserve to slash its target interest rate. Trump last week threatened to introduce import bans on key US trade partners, including Canada and the EU, unless the Fed cuts interest rates. The US Supreme Court in February ruled that Trump's 2025 decisions to arbitrarily impose tariffs on any country had been illegal. But that ruling also pointed out that Congress explicitly gave the White House the legal power to impose an outright embargo on trade with any country. Trump since then has frequently touted that newly discovered prerogative, even though he has denounced the Supreme Court's tariff decision. The import ban on select Canadian products would mark the first exercise of that prerogative. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more