CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Soy basis bids flat-up, traders eye barge freight rates

CHICAGO, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Basis bids for soybeans shipped by barge to U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals were steady to higher on Friday, traders said, as elevated barge freight rates underpinned crop basis levels.

• Corn basis bids stayed largely steady.

• Low water levels on the Mississippi River limited basis declines in corn, traders said, as shippers have restricted barge drafts and tow sizes. The adjustments reduce the amount of grain that can be loaded on each barge and raise per-bushel freight costs.

• Exporters sold 206,460 metric tons of U.S. corn to unknown buyers for 2025/2026 delivery, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said via its daily reporting system.

• For soybeans, U.S. export sales have stuggled as China has not bought U.S. soy from the autumn harvest while Beijing and Washington are locked in a tariff dispute.

• No deals were announced for China, the world's biggest soybean importer, to buy U.S. soy after a call on Friday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

• Harvesting was advancing for corn and soy across the U.S. Midwest, and traders were paying close attention to early yield reports.

• CIF Gulf soybean barges loaded in September were bid 3 cents higher at 60 cents over Chicago Board of Trade November SX25 futures.

• FOB export premiums for soybeans shipped from the Gulf in October were flat at about 70 cents over November futures.

• CIF September corn barges were bid at 75 cents over CBOT December CZ25 futures, which was unchanged from Thursday.

• FOB export premiums for October corn shipments were steady at 99 cents over December futures.