Strong Global Demand Pushes US Corn Inspections Far Above Year Ago Levels

By John Perkins

Brownfield

U.S. corn export inspections continue to move out at a solid pace. The USDA says corn inspections during the week ending November 27th topped a year ago by a substantial margin, reflecting the strong global demand for U.S. corn as the pace is nearly double this time last year. Wheat inspections were up on the year, also reflecting good global demand despite rising supplies and competitive prices from other exporters. China did show up in the weekly inspections update, taking in a small amount of U.S. sorghum, with recently purchased U.S. soybeans remaining unshipped.

The 2025/26 marketing year began June 1st for wheat and September 1st for beans, corn, and sorghum.

The USDA’s updated supply and demand numbers are out December 9th.

Wheat came out at 384,881 tons, down 95,548 from the week ending November 20th, but up 86,258 from the week ending November 28th, 2024. The leading destinations were Vietnam and Mexico. Just outside of the halfway point of the 2025/26 marketing year, wheat inspections are 13,228,425 tons, compared to 11,027,844 in 2024/25.

Corn was reported at 1,421,258 tons, 274,424 lower than the previous week, but 472,446 higher than a year ago. The top destinations were Japan and Mexico. Approaching the second quarter of the marketing year, corn inspections are 18,968,259 tons, compared to 11,112,946 this time last year.

Soybeans were pegged at 920,194 tons, 111,454 more than the prior week, but 1,190,255 less than last year. The primarily destinations were Italy and Egypt. So far, this marketing year, soybean inspections are 11,867,705 tons, compared to 21,817,878 a year ago.

Sorghum inspections totaled 49,124 tons, a decrease of 25,176 on the week and 147,264 on the year. The largest destination was Mexico, followed distantly by China. 2025/26 sorghum inspections are 469,190 tons, compared to 1,088,213 in 2024/25.