# Export sales provide key information about price trends

> An NDSU crop economist explains that the USDA tracks U.S. corn and other grain use in three categories: feed, domestic processing, and exports. Feed use is hard to measure weekly, while processing is relatively stable and easier to project. Export volumes are the hardest to forecast, and the USDA's weekly export sales and inspections reports are the main updates on them.

- Date: 2026-11-12 · published 2026-11-13T06:12:35.193Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/97251-export-sales-provide-key-information-about-price-trends
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Export volumes are hard to predict and can shift quickly under changing trade flows, shipping disruptions or conflict. Unexpected changes in U.S. export pace in the weekly data can move grain price trends.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2021-02-19 | [Economists Analyze Export Sales and Long-Term Chinese Buying Trends](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48472-economists-analyze-export-sales-and-long-term-chinese-buying-trends.md) | +2.3% | +1.3% |
| SOY | 2017-01-01 | [USDA Reports Provide Support to Soybean Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/72939-usda-reports-provide-support-to-soybean-prices.md) | 0.0% | +2.8% |
| SOY | 2023-05-14 | [Key data in USDA's May 12 Wasde report, and difference from market expectations - Grain Price News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35886-key-data-in-usda-s-may-12-wasde-report-and-difference-from-market-expectations.md) | -8.9% | -4.3% |
| SOY | 2024-05-12 | [Key data in USDA's May 10 Wasde report, and difference from market expectations - Grain Price News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30218-key-data-in-usda-s-may-10-wasde-report-and-difference-from-market-expectations.md) | +1.9% | -1.4% |
| SOY | 2026-01-21 | [2026 Crop outlook: Export momentum key to prices given abundant supplies \| FCC](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21164-2026-crop-outlook-export-momentum-key-to-prices-given-abundant-supplies-fcc.md) | +1.4% | +7.6% |
| CORN | 2024-09-12 | [Poultry price increases expected to ease: AgriTrends Report](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28464-poultry-price-increases-expected-to-ease-agritrends-report.md) | +4.9% | +5.1% |
| CORN | 2025-06-24 | [CORRECTION: Export Sales to Mexico \| USDA Foreign Agricultural Service](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24180-correction-export-sales-to-mexico-usda-foreign-agricultural-service.md) | +2.0% | -3.1% |
| CORN | 2021-02-19 | [Economists Analyze Export Sales and Long-Term Chinese Buying Trends](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48472-economists-analyze-export-sales-and-long-term-chinese-buying-trends.md) | +0.6% | -5.3% |

## Sources

- ndsu.edu: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/export-sales-provide-key-information-about-price-trends

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.