Corn Futures Near 1-Month Low

Corn futures traded below $4.4 per bushel, struggling to rebound from a four-week low reached on August 5, as traders continued to assess crop conditions and weather forecasts ahead of the USDA's supply-and-demand report this week. Recent rain and milder temperatures eased crop stress after several weeks of excessive heat and dryness across much of the US Midwest during July, although 28% of US corn was affected by drought, according to the USDA. Elsewhere, Ukraine, a major corn producer, cut its 2026/27 grain export forecast by up to 12% from its previous projection, citing Russian attacks on the country's southern Odessa port hub. The disruption could result in an 11 million-ton grain storage shortfall, according to Ukraine's agriculture ministry, while APK-Inform also lowered its Ukraine grain export forecast by 8.6% to 39.4 million tons. However, both Ukraine and Russia are harvesting large crops that could add to already ample global supplies.

Corn futures rose to around $4.4 per bushel, attempting to rebound from a four-week low as higher crude oil prices boosted demand for biofuel feedstocks. Reports of renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the lack of clarity over a deal to reopen the critical waterway drove oil prices higher. Agricultural commodity prices often tracked energy markets due to the growing use of crop-based feedstocks in biofuel production. Meanwhile, expectations of abundant supplies limited gains, with brokerage StoneX projecting the 2026 US corn harvest at 16.16 billion bushels. Additionally, the USDA lowered its good-to-excellent rating for the US corn crop for a third consecutive week, though the deterioration did little to offset the market's bearish supply outlook. Traders also continued to monitor the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on Black Sea grain exports, although expectations for another large harvest from the region continued to weigh on prices.

Corn futures traded below $4.4 per bushel, holding near a four-week low as weaker crude oil prices weighed on sentiment across agricultural markets. Oil prices plunged following an agreement between Iran and Oman to partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz, fueling expectations of increase energy flows from the Middle East. Agricultural prices are often influenced by energy markets due to the growing use of crop-based feedstocks in biofuel production. Additional pressure came from expectations of abundant supplies, with brokerage StoneX projecting the 2026 US corn harvest at 16.16 billion bushels. The USDA also lowered its good-to-excellent rating for the US corn crop for a third consecutive week, though the deterioration did little to offset the market's bearish supply outlook. Meanwhile, traders continued to monitor the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on Black Sea grain exports, although expectations for another large harvest from the region continued to weigh on prices.