Spot basis bids for soyabeans and corn were mixed in the US Midwest on Thursday afternoon, as harvest progressed but export demand offset the pressure in some areas, grain merchants said. Basis bids for soyabeans eased by 5 cents at an elevator near Chicago but increased by 10 cents along the Illinois River. The spot basis for barge freight delivering soyabeans, however, were pressured by ample supplies but the strong export demanded pushed up the basis bids for later deliveries. The US Department of Agriculture confirmed US soya sales to unknown destinations for 2016-17 shipment on Thursday.