US export sales of corn rose to a five-week high during the week ended 8 October, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, though volumes continue to lag year-prior levels.
Exporters sold 1.3mn metric tonnes (t) of corn in the latest week, the most since the first week of the marketing year that began 1 September, but below last year's 1.58mn t sold. Mexico bought 559,000t — though canceled 14,000t in past sales — while Japan and South Korea added 220,000t and 200,00t in new commitments, respectively, on mixes of new purchases and claims of previously undeclared sales.
Net sales totaled 1.12mn t, down from 1.33mn t for the same week last year, following 177,000t in net cancelations.
Outstanding sales — corn volumes that have been sold for export but have yet to be shipped — declined to 11.9mn t as exports continue to outpace new sales. Outstanding sales have fallen each week this marketing year, in contrast to the typical stagnant-to-increasing pattern observed in the opening months of the new marketing year.
Total commitments rose to 20.7mn t, equivalent to 25pc of the USDA's newly revised export forecast of 83.8mn t. The current sales pace continues to lag the five-year average of 35pc for the week.
China renews soybean buying
US soybean export sales totaled just 605,000t during the week ended 8 October, but China has returned to buying large volumes over the last three days.
China added 126,000t in 2026-27 soybean commitments last week — its lowest volume secured of the marketing year so far — largely from claims of previously undeclared sales. China had slowed its acquisitions of US soybeans, averaging just 457,000t across the last five weeks compared to an average of 976,000t in the nine weeks prior, before and after the latest summit between US president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Large purchases resumed over the past three days, with the USDA reporting 1.36mn t in new sales to China since 14 October. The agency also reported 519,000t in sales to unknown destinations, some or all of which China could claim later. The USDA's weekly reports will begin reflecting these sales on 22 October.
Elsewhere, Egypt added 111,000t in soybean commitments, with Bangladesh and Japan each picking up 110,000t.
Wheat sales remain muted
US wheat export sales totaled 385,000t in the latest week, well below the 683,000t sold the year prior.
Net sales fell by a similar amount, falling to 320,000t from 614,000t for the same week in 2025 following 65,000t in net cancelations. In terms of new commitments, Taiwan added 106,000t, while Sri Lanka and Mexico picked up 68,000t and 52,000t, respectively.
Total commitments — up to 10.4mn t — are at 51pc of the export projection for the year compared with the five-year average 55pc for the week. The 2026-27 sales pace has hovered at 3 to 4 percentage points below average levels since the week ended 30 July.
