Cotton, rice hit marketing year highs in mixed week for U.S. export sales

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Cotton, rice hit marketing year highs in mixed week for U.S. export sales

Rice and cotton exports hit marketing year highs during the week ending February 12^th. The USDA says key customers led the way for both commodities, including Colombia for rice and Vietnam for cotton. Soybeans and soybean products also saw week-to-week improvements. Corn, wheat, sorghum, beef, and pork export sales were below the previous week. Export demand is influenced by several factors, including the value of the dollar relative to other currencies and seasonal supply trends. The USDA’s next round of supply and demand estimates is out March 10^th.

Physical shipments of soybeans were more than what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2025/26 marketing year began June 1^st for wheat, August 1^st for cotton and rice, September 1^st for beans, corn, and wheat, and October 1^st for soybean products. The marketing year for beef and pork is the calendar year.

Wheat came out at 288,000 tons (10.6 million bushels), down 41% from the week ending February 5^th and 44% from the four-week average. Mexico purchased 59,000 tons and the Philippines bought 55,000 tons, but Indonesia canceled on 70,000 tons. Closing in on the final quarter of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat exports are 830.3 million bushels, compared to 722.3 million in 2024/25. Sales of 18,500 tons (700,000 bushels) for 2026/27 delivery were to Colombia (14,500 tons) and Mexico (4,000 tons).

Corn was reported at 1,469,500 tons (57.9 million bushels), 29% lower than the previous week and 33% below the four-week average. Japan picked up 381,500 tons and Mexico purchased 270,100 tons. Approaching the back half of the current marketing year, corn exports are 2.452 billion bushels, compared to 1.885 billion this time last year. Sales of 65,700 tons (2.6 million bushels) for 2026/27 were to Japan.

Sorghum sales of 70,500 tons (2.8 million bushels) were a decline of 73% from the week before and 79% from the four-week average. China bought 120,600 tons and Mexico picked up 1,900 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 52,000 tons. Sorghum exports are 157.9 million bushels, compared to 47.2 million a year ago.

Rice sales of 160,600 tons were larger than both the prior week and the four-week average. Colombia purchased 97,000 tons and Japan bought 39,000 tons. Rice exports are 1,846,100 tons, compared to 2,197,800 last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 798,200 tons (29.3 million bushels), a big increase on the week, but a decrease of 20% from the four-week average. China picked up 415,500 tons and Egypt purchased 226,900 tons, while unknown destinations canceled on 149,700 tons. So far, this marketing year, soybean exports are 1.3 billion bushels, compared to 1.598 billion a year ago. Sales of 66,000 tons (2.4 million bushels) for 2026/27 delivery were to unknown destinations.

Soybean meal came out at 480,900 tons, up 35% from the previous week and 20% from the four-week average. Colombia bought 105,600 tons and Mexico picked up 91,700 tons. At this point in the marketing year, soybean meal exports are 11,481,800 tons, compared to 10,396,700 last year.

Soybean oil was reported at 11,100 tons, rising sharply from the week before and 25% above the four-week average. Mexico purchased 4,700 tons and the Dominican Republic bought 3,100 tons. Cumulative soybean oil exports are 349,700 tons, compared to 690,700 a year ago. Sales of 300 tons for 2026/27 delivery were to Mexico.

Upland cotton was pegged at 466,300 bales, considering more than the prior week and 70% higher than the four-week average. Vietnam picked up 144,800 bales and Bangladesh purchased 126,400 bales. 2025/26 upland cotton exports are 8,500,600 bales, compared to 9,443,400 in 2024/25. Sales of 33,100 bales for 2026/27 delivery were mainly to Bangladesh (15,000 bales) and Guatemala (13,200 bales).

Net beef sales totaled 14,700 tons, falling 6% on the week and 13% from the four-week average. The reported buyers were South Korea (5,500 tons), Japan (2,600 tons), Hong Kong (1,600 tons), Taiwan (1,300 tons), and Indonesia (1,100 tons). Physical shipments of 13,400 tons were up 15% from the previous week and 7% from the four-week average, primarily to South Korea (4,400 tons), Japan (3,900 tons), Mexico (1,200 tons), Taiwan (1,200 tons), and Hong Kong (1,000 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 27,300 tons, 5% under the week before and 29% less than the four-week average. The listed purchasers were Mexico (9,200 tons), Japan (5,600 tons), South Korea (3,400 tons), Canada (2,500 tons), and Colombia (1,900 tons). Physical shipments of 35,700 tons were a decrease of 4% from the prior week and 5% from the four-week average, mostly to Mexico (17,200 tons), Japan (4,200 tons), South Korea (3,600 tons), China (2,500 tons), and Canada (1,700 tons).