Corn Futures Approach 1-Year High
2026-04-30 09:30
By
Agna Gabriel
1 min. read
Corn futures advanced to $4.67 per bushel, moving close to a one-year peak of $4.7 reached on March 19, as rising fertilizer and energy costs driven by the Middle East conflict increased pressure on production.
Oil prices surged to a wartime high after reports that President Donald Trump is set to review new military options in Iran, raising the risk of further escalation.
Higher input costs, including fertilizers, chemicals and diesel for irrigation, are squeezing margins and threatening yields for the nutrient-intensive crop.
In response, farmers in key regions from the US to Europe are reducing corn acreage and shifting to less input-heavy crops to manage costs.
Prices were also supported by strong export demand, including fresh South Korean purchases, and wet conditions across parts of the US corn belt.
The USDA reported US corn planting at 25% complete, ahead of expectations and above the five-year average, though upcoming Midwest storms could slow progress in some areas.