Weekly corn, soybean and wheat export sales were down from the prior week, but corn and soybeans topped trade forecasts, while wheat fell short of forecasts.

China was again the leading buyer of soybeans, while Japan led corn buyers and Nigeria led in the wheat, USDA said in its weekly report.

The report put weekly corn sales at nearly 49.3 million bushels, which was down 18% from the previous week, but topped the trade forecasts in a Reuters’s poll by a large margin. Japan, Mexico and South Korea were the leading buyers.

In daily reporting, USDA on Thursday said Mexico bought 3.95 million bushels of 2017/2018 corn. That sale will be included in a future weekly export report.

Soybean sales of 66.6 million bushels for 2016/2017 supplies were down 10% from the prior week. After China, the leading buyers included Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. About 246,000 bushels of 2017/2018 soybeans were sold to Japan.

The wheat sales of 10.9 million bushels were down 44% from the prior week. The business was led by Nigeria, Mozambique and Indonesia.

Chicago’s corn, soybean and wheat markets had little reaction to the export report in the closing minutes of the overnight session. Corn futures closed the session down 1-1/4 cents in March and down 1 in May, January soybeans were down 7-1/4 and March down 7-1/2. March soft red winter wheat futures closed 1/4 cent lower, March hard red winter unchanged and March spring wheat up 1/4.

Soymeal export sales of 139,200 metric tons were down 30% from the prior week and matched trade forecasts. Mexico, Canada and unknown destinations led buyers. A 500-ton sale of 2017/2018 soymeal went to Canada.

Soybean oil sales of 15,100 metric tons were down 63% from the prior week. The business was led by Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia.

Sorghum sales of 3.5 million bushels were down sharply from the previous week. China and Japan were the leading buyers.

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