US Corn Futures Plunge 3% on Higher-than-Expected Inventories

The US Corn Futures market experienced a significant decline of 3% on Wednesday after the USDA released its Quarterly Grain Stocks report, which revealed higher-than-expected corn inventories as of September 1.

The average trade estimate for corn stocks was at 1.918 billion bushels for the 2025-26 marketing year, but the actual figure exceeded those expectations, signaling ample supply and triggering a sharp sell-off in December corn futures from their opening level near 522 to a session low of 503.38.

The report also showed that corn was the likeliest swing factor for the grain complex, with an overstated 2025 crop, higher feed numbers, and weak early harvest yields pointing to downside risk on stocks.