A recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report indicates a generally positive trend in agricultural exports for the week ending July 24th, 2025. This summary highlights a particularly strong performance in corn sales, augmented by new crop acquisitions, alongside commendable volumes for both soybeans and wheat. The report offers a detailed glimpse into the global demand for American agricultural products, reinforcing the sector's vital role in international trade.
Detailed Agricultural Export Overview
In a week marked by noteworthy agricultural trade activities, the USDA's export sales data, released on a recent Thursday morning and covering the period up to July 24, 2025, presented a predominantly optimistic outlook for market participants. The corn sector, in particular, witnessed a vigorous surge, propelled by substantial new crop sales. Although old crop corn sales experienced a 47% week-over-week decline, the influx of new crop contracts boosted the total volume to an impressive 87.9 million bushels. This figure positioned overall corn sales at the upper end of expert projections, which had varied from 31.5 million to 94.5 million bushels. Cumulative sales for the 2024-25 marketing year have now reached 2.428 billion bushels, substantially surpassing the previous year's pace. Major destinations for corn shipments, which saw a 10% increase over the preceding four-week average, included Japan, Mexico, Honduras, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the soybean market displayed a pleasing robustness, despite the ongoing absence of demand from a key importer, China. Old crop soybean sales saw a modest 4% uptick compared to the average of the prior four weeks, with total sales aligning with the higher end of analyst forecasts, which ranged from 7.3 million to 33.1 million bushels. The accumulated sales for the 2024-25 marketing year have achieved 1.737 billion bushels, maintaining a moderate lead over the previous year's figures. Soybean export shipments demonstrated remarkable growth, soaring 63% above the previous four-week average to 18.4 million bushels. Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan emerged as the primary buyers. No sorghum sales were recorded for the week, leaving the current marketing year's total sales significantly behind last year's performance at 64.1 million bushels.
The wheat market also contributed positively to the export narrative, with sales reaching 23.2 million bushels. While this represented a 17% decrease week-over-week, it remained consistent with the prior four-week average and fell within the upper range of analyst estimates, which were between 11.0 million and 25.7 million bushels. Cumulative wheat sales for the 2024-25 marketing year are slightly ahead of last year's pace, totaling 118.6 million bushels. However, wheat export shipments experienced a notable 46% decline below the prior four-week average, settling at 10.9 million bushels. The leading importers of wheat were Mexico, Nigeria, Japan, South Korea, and Ecuador.
From a journalist's perspective, this export report paints a compelling picture of global agricultural dynamics. The robust demand for U.S. corn, driven by new crop sales, highlights the adaptability of the market and the forward-looking strategies of international buyers. The continued strong performance of soybeans and wheat, even with varied market conditions, underscores the fundamental and persistent global need for these staple crops. This data is not just about numbers; it reflects the interconnectedness of global food systems and the critical role that American agriculture plays in feeding the world. It also serves as a valuable indicator for farmers and policymakers, offering insights into market trends that can inform future planning and strategies to ensure continued growth and stability in the agricultural sector.
