CBOT wheat falls on large global supplies in limited trade

CHICAGO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures fell on Wednesday due to global oversupply, shrugging off the escalating war between grain producers Russia and Ukraine on a day of light pre-holiday trade.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported net export sales of U.S. 2025-26 wheat in the week ended December 18 at 147,800 metric tons, toward the low end of trade expectations.

• Argentina's 2025/26 wheat harvest is forecast to hit a record 27.8 million tons, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Tuesday, lifting its estimate from 27.1 million tons due to persistent high yields as harvesting nears completion.

• Ukrainian drones on Wednesday damaged Russian energy infrastructure and disrupted Kazakhstan's oil exports. Ukraine is among the world's largest exporters of wheat and corn.

• CBOT March soft red winter wheat WH26 settled 3-3/4 cents lower at $5.07 per bushel.

• K.C. March hard red winter wheat KWH26 ended 7-1/4 cents lower at $5.14-3/4 a bushel.

• Minneapolis March spring wheat MWEH26 settled 4-1/2 cents down at $5.74 per bushel.

• For the year, CBOT most active wheat Wv1 fell 8.07%, its third consecutive annual decline.