CBOT corn futures firm ahead of USDA data release

CHICAGO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures ticked higher on Wednesday as traders adjusted positions ahead of a major U.S. agricultural data release.

• CBOT December corn CZ25 settled up 3-1/4 cents at $4.35-1/4 per bushel.

• Investors adjusted positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's world crop supply and demand reports due on Friday, which will include the agency's first U.S. and global crop estimates since September because of the U.S. government shutdown.

• A poll of analysts surveyed by Reuters on average expected the USDA to lower its U.S. corn yield estimate to 184.0 bushels per acre (bpa), from 186.7 in its last estimate released on September 12.

• In a Reuters poll, analysts estimated corn export sales for the week ended November 6 at 1,000,000-2,000,000 metric tons.

• The release of export sales data by the USDA has been suspended because of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

• Thailand's cabinet agreed to increase U.S. corn imports and cut the tariff to zero as part of the country's ongoing trade negotiations with Washington.