CBOT Trends-Wheat up 4-6 cents, corn up 2-4 cents, soy up 1-3 cents

CHICAGO, March 5 (Reuters) - The following are U.S. expectations for the resumption of grain and soy complex trading at the Chicago Board of Trade at 8:30 a.m. CST (1430 GMT) on Thursday:

WHEAT - Up 4 to 6 cents per bushel

• Short-covering and rising oil prices supported CBOT grains as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered its sixth day.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported weekly U.S. wheat export sales for 2025/26 were 203,100 metric tons. Analysts expected 200,000 to 500,000 metric tons. EXP/WHE

• Canadian farmers intend to plant 26.7 million acres of wheat in 2026, Statistics Canada said. Analysts expected 26.4 million acres.

• CBOT May soft red winter wheat WK26 was last up 5 cents at $5.73-1/4 per bushel. K.C. May hard red winter wheat KWK26 was last up 7 cents at $5.79-1/2 per bushel, while Minneapolis May spring wheat MWEK26 was up 4-1/4 cents at $6.13-1/2 per bushel.

CORN - Up 2 to 4 cents

• Surging oil prices lifted CBOT corn, though ample supplies continued to hang over grain markets.

• The Middle East conflict shut fertiliser plants in the region and disrupted shipping routes.

• Weekly U.S. corn export sales for 2025/26 were 2 million metric tons. Analysts expected 600,000 to 1.6 million metric tons. EXP/CORN

• U.S. corn prices were the cheapest among major exporters, traders said.

• CBOT May corn CK26 was last up 2-3/4 cents at $4.46-1/2 per bushel.

SOYBEANS - Up 1 to 3 cents

• CBOT soyoil set contract highs and soybeans jumped as oil prices rallied.

• Bunge BG.N said it was exploring alternative shipping routes because of the Middle East conflict.

• The USDA reported weekly 2025/26 U.S. soybean export sales were 383,500 metric tons. Analysts expected 300,000 to 1 million metric tons. EXP/SOY

• Exporters waited to see whether China would return to the U.S. soybean market before a planned meeting between the nations' leaders.

• China aims to boost grain production capacity by prioritizing yield gains rather than farmland expansion, government reports said.

• CBOT May soybeans SK26 were last up 1-1/2 cents at $11.71 per bushel.