CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Soy barge bids soften, corn firm as planting progresses

April 25 (Reuters) - Basis bids for soybeans delivered by barge to U.S. Gulf Coast terminals weakened slightly on Friday while corn barge bids strengthened and farmer offerings of both crops remained light, traders said.

• U.S. farmers remain preoccupied with planting the 2025 corn and soybean crops, a factor that reduced cash grain sales into marketing channels that feed Gulf export terminals. However, rains crossed the central Corn Belt on Friday, interrupting field work in some areas.

• CIF Gulf soybean barges loaded in April were bid at 77 cents over Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) May SK25 soybean futures, down 2 cents from Thursday. May soybean barges traded at 80 cents over futures and were re-bid at 79 cents over futures, steady with Thursday's last bid.

• Export premiums for soybeans loaded from the Gulf in May were around 90 cents over CBOT May futures, up a penny from Thursday.

• For corn, CIF Gulf barges loaded in April were bid at 73 cents over CBOT corn CK25 futures, up 2 cents from Thursday's last bid, while offers were around 75 cents over futures. April corn barges had traded on Thursday at 73 cents over futures.

• FOB export premiums for corn shipped from the Gulf in May were about 83 cents over CBOT May futures, up 1 cent from Thursday.

• U.S. President Donald Trump asserted in an interview published Friday that tariff negotiations were underway with China, the world's top soy buyer. China denied any talks were taking place, the latest in a series of conflicting signals over whether progress was being made to de-escalate a trade war threatening to sap global growth.

For displays of CIF basis, click on the codes in brackets: U.S. CIF Gulf soybeans GRYM U.S. CIF Gulf corn GRYN U.S. CIF Gulf SRW wheat GRYO U.S. CIF Gulf HRW wheat GRYP