Corn Ends Session with Slight Price Fluctuations

Corn Futures Experience Slight Price Shifts

Thursday's trading session for corn futures was relatively subdued, with minor declines seen in the front-month contracts while other months posted small gains. The CmdtyView national average cash price for corn edged down by a quarter cent, settling at $4.08 1/2.

Export Sales and Market Activity

According to the latest export sales report, only 377,598 metric tons of corn were sold during the week ending January 1, falling short of the anticipated 0.7 to 1.5 million metric tons for the 2025/26 marketing year. This figure marks the lowest weekly total for the current marketing year and is 15.1% less than the same period last year. South Korea was the top purchaser with 139,000 metric tons, followed by Japan at 108,100 metric tons. For the 2026/27 period, sales reached 11,860 metric tons, aligning with expectations ranging from zero to 100,000 metric tons.

Export and Production Highlights

Recent census figures revealed a delayed update for October, showing a record 6.564 million metric tons (248.5 million bushels) of corn exported that month. While this was a 5.93% decrease from September, it represented a 63.38% increase compared to October 2024. Exports of distillers grains were just under last year’s October record at 1.067 million metric tons. Ethanol exports also reached a monthly record, totaling 185 million gallons.

Upcoming USDA Report

The USDA’s next WASDE report is scheduled for release on Monday. A Bloomberg poll indicates that analysts expect corn stocks to be reported at 1.985 billion bushels, which would be a reduction of 44 million bushels if confirmed.

Recent Corn Price Summary

• March 2026 Corn closed at $4.46, down 3/4 cent
• Nearby Cash settled at $4.08 1/2, down 1/4 cent
• May 2026 Corn finished at $4.54, unchanged
• July 2026 Corn ended at $4.60 1/2, up 3/4 cent