US Grain Markets Face Critical USDA Test Amid Renewed Chinese Demand for Soybeans
The US grain markets are in a critical phase as China returns to buying American soybeans and traders await USDA reports that could lower corn and soybean yield estimates.
USDA's Crop Production report is expected to reveal a sharp reduction in the average analyst estimate for the 2026 U.S. corn yield, from 180.7 bushels per acre to 178.2 bpa.
This would be a significant drop from the final 2025 yield of 186.5 bpa and could impact estimated corn production, which is expected at 15.785 billion bushels, down from USDA's August forecast of 16 billion.
China's renewed demand for US soybeans has added support to U.S. soybean prices, with November futures climbing 9 cents overnight to $13.185 per bushel, near the 2-year intraday high of $13.24 reached Sept. 2.