CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Corn barge bids steady-to-firm on robust export demand

CHICAGO, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Basis bids for corn shipped by barge to U.S. Gulf Coast terminals were mostly steady to firm on Friday on good export demand and a slowdown in farmer selling, traders said.

• Corn basis bids had plunged early in the week on ample available supplies in the river market as farmers sold off old-crop supplies ahead of what is likely to be a bumper U.S. harvest this autumn. Marketings were slow on Friday.

• Corn export demand remained strong as U.S. prices were lower than rival suppliers.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday confirmed private sales totaling 352,160 metric tons of U.S. corn for shipment to undisclosed destinations in the 2025/26 marketing year. It was the third large U.S. corn export sales announcement this week via USDA's daily reporting system, with sales totaling 1.18 million tons in that time.

• CIF soybean basis bids were steady to higher as rising barge freight rates lifted values for some new-crop loading slots. Export demand remained slow amid cheaper Brazilian soybeans and muted new-crop demand from top importer China.

• CIF Gulf corn barges loaded in July were bid a penny higher at 83 cents over Chicago Board of Trade September CU25 futures. August corn barge bids were unchanged at 82 cents over futures.

• FOB export premiums for corn shipped from the Gulf in September held steady at 115 cents over September futures after rising earlier in the week. October offers held at 97 cents over December futures CZ25.

• CIF Gulf soybean barge bids for July loadings were 84 cents over August futures SQ25, up about 2 cents from earlier in the week. August bids climbed 7 cents to 89 cents over futures.

• FOB export premiums for soybeans shipped from the Gulf in September were unchanged at 94 cents over August futures.

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

For displays of FOB basis, please click on the following codes in brackets:

U.S. FOB Gulf corn GRZC

U.S. FOB Gulf soybeans GRZD

U.S. FOB Gulf SRW wheat GRZE

U.S. FOB Gulf HRW wheat GRZF

LINKS Corn prices page: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageid=corn-cash-market

Wheat prices page: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageid=wheat-cash-market

U.S. barge freight BG/US

U.S. export sales estimates USDA/EST

U.S. grain export summary GRA/U

Brazil soybean export prices SYBS

Brazil corn export prices SYBX

Argentina grain prices GRA/ARG

Russia grain prices GRA/RU