Global grain and oilseed markets

According to sample checks, on Monday, the base rates for corn and soybeans in the US Midwest remained mostly stable or even increased, as the decline in futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and winter weather in the northern areas of the region held back sales from farmers. By the end of the calendar year, US soybean exports remain one of the weakest elements of the market balance. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts exports at 1.635 billion bushels (about 44.5 million tons), which is 13% less compared to last year. The lag has been observed throughout the marketing year, and the pace of export commitments is consistently below historical averages. Soybean export contracts for the 2025/26 MY remain at the lower end of the five-year range. Although sales picked up slightly at the end of summer and early autumn, their volumes still significantly lag behind both the five-year average and the pace needed to meet the USDA forecast. Typically, at this stage of the ...