U.S. grain export inspections rose last week, with corn and wheat shipments holding above seasonal highs, according to the USDA on Monday. Corn export inspections rose 9 percent to 1.74 million metric tons (MMT) during the week ending Dec. 18. Volumes were also 52 percent above the same week last year, as demand continued from key buyers.
Mexico was the No. 1 destination for U.S. corn during the week. South Korea, Spain, and Japan were also top destinations.
Accumulated corn export inspections for the 2025/26 marketing year reached 24.27 MMT, sitting 68 percent above a year ago, reaching 31 percent of the USDA’s export target.
Soybean export inspections rose 7.4 percent last week to 870,200 metric tons (MT). However, volumes were still 51 percent below the same week last year.
China was the top destination for the week, accounting for 386,000 MT of the total. Mexico was the No. 2 destination. China is confirmed to have purchased nearly half of the 12 MMT of soybeans it pledged to buy from the United States.
Total soybean inspections for the marketing year rose to 14.59 MMT, 46 percent lower than last year.
U.S. wheat movements jumped 28 percent last week to 627,400 MT. Inspections were the best since late September and well above their seasonal average for the week. Volumes were 47 percent higher than a year ago and topped every year since 2005.
Mexico was the top destination for wheat last week. Japan, Thailand, and China also landed in the top five.
Accumulated wheat export inspections rose to 14.75 MMT, running 23 percent ahead of last year. Strong hard red winter wheat shipments have been driving higher year-over-year demand, particularly for Mexico, Nigeria, and parts of Asia.
Sorghum export inspections fell sharply last week to just 4,000 MT. Those shipments were bound for China, according to the USDA. Year-to-date inspections are running 60 percent behind last season at 546,500 MT.
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