Export premiums for wheat, corn and soyabeans shipped from the US Gulf Coast held steady on Friday, traders said. Activity on the FOB market was light ahead of the New Year's holiday weekend. Markets will be closed on Monday.
The US Agriculture Department said early Friday that weekly export sales of wheat were a better-than-expected 568,000 tonnes. Corn export sales were in line with trade forecasts while soyabean export sales fell below expectations.
Shipping costs were flat on Midwest rivers, with barges offered at 200 percent of tariff on the Mississippi River at St. Louis, 270 percent of tariff on the Illinois River and 210 percent of tariff on the lower Ohio River. Bids for barges were 10 percentage points lower than the offers.
January corn shipments were offered at about 58 cents over CBOT March futures.
January US soyabean shipments were offered at 60 cents a bushel over CBOT January futures, steadying after rising 2 cents on Thursday.
Offers for January soft red winter wheat shipments were about 68 cents over CBOT March futures.
Spot hard red winter wheat cargoes were offered at 115 cents over March futures.