GRAINS-Wheat futures fall on shaky export demand, stronger dollar

By Heather Schlitz

CHICAGO, March 20 (Reuters) - Chicago wheat futures eased for a third consecutive session on Thursday as lackluster weekly export sales data as well as strength in the dollar added to doubts over U.S. export prospects, traders said.

Soybeans chopped up and down amid harvest pressure from a bumper Brazilian crop, while corn extended gains to a one-week high on strong export demand and tight global supplies.

Traders have continued to monitor tariff tussles between the United States and trading partners, discussions to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, and U.S. farmers' plans for spring planting.

The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Wv1 was down 8 cents to $5.55-1/2 per bushel as of 10:30 am CT (1530 GMT).

CBOT soybeans Sv1 were up 1-3/4 cents to $10.09-1/2 a bushel and CBOT corn Cv1 up 5 cents to $4.67 a bushel.

The dollar index =USD rose further after the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated it was in no rush to cut rates further this year due to uncertainties around U.S. tariffs. FRX/ A stronger dollar makes U.S. commodities more expensive on the global market.

On Thursday morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a net decline of 248,900 metric tons in U.S. wheat sales for the 2024/25 marketing year in the week ended March 13, well below expectations for net positive sales of 300,000 to 700,000 tons. EXP/WHE

Thursday's poor wheat export sales are a reflection of strong global wheat supplies, analysts said.

Meanwhile, rain and snow over portions of winter wheat-growing areas in the U.S. have helped alleviate dryness while adding pressure to prices.

"It's a combination of weather on the downside and fragile demand," Don Roose, president of U.S. Commodities, said.

Traders are also positioning ahead of the USDA's grain stocks and prospective planting reports on March 31, where the agency will release estimates for farmers' planting intentions in 2025.