CBOT corn ticks lower on profit-taking

The most-active corn contract Cv1 settled 3 cents lower to $5.33-1/2 per bushel.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday reported net export sales of new-crop U.S. corn in the week ended August 20 at 1,066,400 metric tons, in line with trade expectations for 600,000 to 1,600,000 tons.

In Argentina, a major corn exporter, El Niño weather phenomenon supports sowing even as pest risks and higher costs weigh on farmers' plans, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange said on Tuesday.

The country is expected to plant 8.4 million hectares of corn for the 2026/27 season, unchanged from the previous cycle.

France, the European Union's biggest grain producer, will export much less wheat outside Europe this season as a dire maize crop requires more wheat to be used to feed domestic livestock, commodity analysis firm Argus Media said on Thursday.

Chicago Board of Trade corn futures eased on a round of profit-taking on Thursday after setting multi-year highs on Wednesday when the grain tracked a jump in wheat prices.

The corn market has also drawn support from decreasing expectations for U.S. corn yields in the upcoming harvest.

Corn prices have risen in recent days after a U.S. industry group tour found subpar crops hurt by adverse summer weather and estimated that U.S. 2026 production would fall well below government forecasts.