Grain Inspections Down for Third Consecutive Week

source: USDA Grain Transportation Report

For the week ending March 19, total inspections of grain (corn, wheat, and soybeans) for export from all major U.S. export regions reached 1.77 million metric tons (mmt).

Continuing a 3-week downward trend, total grain inspections were down 11 percent from the previous week, down 23 percent from last year, and down 31 percent from the 3-year average. Compared to the previous week, wheat inspections dropped 25 percent, and corn inspections decreased 17 percent.

Soybean inspections, however, increased 15 percent from the previous week as shipments destined to China increased.

Total Pacific Northwest (PNW) grain inspections jumped 45 percent from week to week, but the increase could not offset the decreases in other export regions, such as the Mississippi Gulf and Interior, which decreased 19 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Year-to-date grain inspections are currently down 9 percent from the same time last year.

Information provided by USDA Grain Transportation Report.