Soybean, corn barge basis steady to mixed as harvest pace picks up

Basis bids for soybeans and corn shipped by barge to the US Gulf were steady to mixed on Friday as the central US Midwest harvest picked up and empty barges moved north to meet demand, traders said. October CIF soybean barges were bid at 81 cents over November soybean futures, down 5 cents, while November loadings were bid at 108 cents over futures, down 1 cent.

October CIF corn barges were bid at 72 cents over December corn futures, up 2 cents, and November barges were bid at 87 cents over futures, up 3 cents. October first-half Gulf corn export premiums rose 6 cents to 103 cents over futures; second-half offers rose 8 cents to the same level. October Gulf soybean export premiums held around 110 cents over futures, while November shipments were offered at 117 cents, up 2 cents.

US corn futures fell by as much as the daily trading limit after the US Department of Agriculture increased its 2026 US harvest outlook. Wheat futures also declined, while soybeans recovered from a six-week low and finished higher. Midwest spot soybean basis bids were generally flat to weaker as harvest accelerated.