CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Corn, soybean basis bids slip amid elevated empty barge freight rates

CHICAGO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Basis bids for corn and soybeans shipped by barge to U.S. Gulf Coast terminals eased on Wednesday, as export premiums were mixed ahead of the New Year holiday, traders said.

• U.S. grain markets will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.

• Empty barge freight values remained elevated, though interest was limited ahead of the New Year's Day holiday on Thursday. BG/US

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported net export sales of U.S. soybeans for the 2025-26 market year in the week ended December 18 at 987,100 metric tons, below a range of trade expectations for 1.4 million to 2.4 million tons.

• USDA also reported net export sales of U.S. 2025-26 corn in the week ended December 18 at 2.2 million metric tons, topping a range of trade expectations for 1 million to 2 million tons.

• CIF bids for Gulf soybean barges loaded in December were down 4 cents at 93 cents a bushel over CBOT January soybean SF26 futures. CIF bids for January loadings dropped 7 cents at 95 cents over futures.

• FOB offers for vessels loaded from the Gulf in January dipped down 2 cents at about 108 cents over CBOT January futures, and offers for February shipments were steady at around 110 cents over March SH26 futures.

• For corn, CIF Gulf December barges ticked down 1 cent at 79 cents over CBOT March corn CH26 futures, while January bids were steady at 81 cents over futures.

• FOB export premiums for January corn shipments were up 4 cents at around 106 cents over March futures. Export premiums for deferred-month loadings also firmed, dealers said.

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