The 2025/2026 marketing year closed on May 31, 2026, and U.S. wheat export sales finished the year on a strong note, providing a buffer of support for farm families during a year of low farmgate prices. Final export inspections hit 23.7 million metric tons (MMT) or 871 million bushels, representing a nearly 15% increase year-over-year and the highest exports since the 2020/2021 marketing year.
The volume is impressive, but the numbers alone do not tell the full story. Just as important as how much wheat was sold was where those sales originated. Increases in wheat exports to both core and swing markets reflect the reputation and value of U.S. wheat in the global marketplace.
“U.S. wheat continued to move steadily into global markets despite a year marked by geopolitical uncertainty, volatile freight costs and intense competition from other exporting origins,” said Brian Liedl, USW vice president of overseas operations. “In a year where there were record or near-record crops in almost every major wheat exporting country, U.S. wheat found its place in the market.”
A Balanced Year
The mix of sales to both core and swing markets in the 2025/2026 marketing year reflects the resilience of the U.S. wheat export program. At the beginning of the year, the USDA projected exports at 21.8 MMT (801 million bushels) and revised that estimate several times as commercial sales continued to outpace the prior year.
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