The USDA’s recently released flash export sales data show that U.S. soybeans continue to attract demand from China, even amid a partial federal government shutdown. According to the backlog report, China purchased 8.525 million bushels of U.S. soybeans, or roughly 232,000 tons. Additional sales to unknown destinations could potentially include further Chinese purchases once deliveries are finalized.
Corn exports were also strong, with Mexico and unidentified buyers leading the purchases. Wheat sales, however, were limited, with only one reported transaction to Bangladesh, suggesting that China has not recently committed to significant U.S. wheat purchases as previously speculated.
The USDA plans to release the remaining backlogged export sales reports in the coming weeks and will resume its regular reporting schedule. This update was corrected on November 17th to accurately reflect the volume of soybean sales to China, following clarification from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
