CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Corn, soybean basis bids turn lower as USDA releases data trove

CHICAGO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Basis bids for soybeans and corn shipped by barge to the U.S. Gulf Coast fell on Friday, as brokers and traders said they focused on sifting through a trove of federal government crop supply-demand and export data.

• While interior river levels have been falling, forecasts of rain across parts of the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys are expected to help, barge sources said. BG/US

• CIF Gulf soybean barges loaded in November were bid at 62 cents a bushel over Chicago Board of Trade January SF26 futures, down 1 cent from Thursday.

• FOB export premiums for soybeans loaded in December were down 1 cent, at around 102 cents over CBOT January SF26 futures.

• CIF Gulf corn barges loaded in November were down 7 cents at 74 cents over CBOT December CZ25 corn futures.

• FOB export premiums for December corn shipments were 1 cent lower, at around 96 cents over futures.

• U.S. farmers are expected to reap a record-large corn crop this year, though the U.S. Department of Agriculture slightly lowered its forecast for U.S. corn and soybeans on Friday, in the first official estimates of the nation's two most valuable crops since mid-September.

• Grain and soybean futures slumped, as traders had expected the government to forecast deeper cuts to the nation's corn crop, even as USDA reported that corn supplies were rising more than use.

• The agency also slightly lowered its U.S. soybean export estimate for the current crop season as China, the world's top soy importer, has largely shunned American shipments amid trade battles between Washington and Beijing.

• USDA also released details about large daily export sales that occurred during the U.S. government shutdown.

• Among other things, the data showed 1.348 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans sold from October 1 to November 12, including 332,000 tons confirmed sold to China and 616,000 tons sold to unknown destinations.

• The data also showed 4.915 million tons of U.S. corn sold during the period, including 2.916 million tons confirmed sold to Mexico for the 2025/2026 marketing year and 548,640 tons for the 2026/2027 marketing year.

• Spot river freight costs eased on the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri — but otherwise remained relatively steady on Friday, dealers said. BG/US