Weekly Market Update 12/18/2025

Here is your weekly market update from the Garden City Co-op Grain Origination Team.

Trivia

1. Which U.S. state shares a border with only one other state?  

2. Who is known as the “Father of Modern Physics”?

Answers at the bottom.

 

Merry Christmas from your GCC Grain Team!

Our offices will be closed at noon on Wednesday, December 24th, and all day on December 25th to celebrate Christmas. The week after for New Years regular close on December 31st, closed all day on January 1st

Christmas Market Hours
Christmas Eve—early close, 12:05 pm CST – no overnight, Christmas Day—Closed
12/26—Regular Open 8:30 am CST

New years Market hours 
New years Eve—close, 1:15 pm CST – no overnight, New years Day—Closed
1/2—Regular Open 8:30 am CST

Market News

MARKET UPDATE: March corn futures were up 3 ½-cents to a settlement price of $4.44 at the close today. Strong export and ethanol demand have continued to add support to the corn market; with favorable prices keeping global corn buyers interested. Early on Wednesday morning, the USDA announced a private exporter sale of 6.97 million bushels of corn to Mexico – the fourth flash sale over the last 5 business days. March soybean futures were down 7 ¼-cents today to $10.6125. Collapsing charts have weighed down soybean futures this week, despite the announcement of additional USDA-confirmed purchases by China. Some continue to remain skeptical that China can hit their 12 MMT target before the end of February. Additionally, Brazil continues to inch closer to a record-breaking soybean harvest, keeping some downside potential in the market for the immediate future. March wheat futures were up 9 ¼-cents to $5.17 at the close. Wheat futures bounced from recent market lows with position short-coverings and strong end-user demands. However, ample global supplies and bearish fundamentals continue to maintain pressure on the market, limiting upside potential.

INTEREST RATE MARKET UPDATE: The FED lowered rates by 0.25% again, moving the fund range to 3.50% to 3.75%, with a 9-3 vote. Unemployment was .2% higher than expected at 4.6%, while job growth has continued to be flat. Nonfarm payrolls are up 64,000 for November but is a mere correction after the 105,000 drop in October. The November CPI came out today and is up 2.7%, which is down from the 3% mark in September. Core CPI numbers are 0.40% below expectations. As good as these numbers look, data quality must be considered from a lapse in reporting due to the government shutdown in October.

NOPA CRUSH: The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) released their November crush report earlier this week and while it was a record November crush, it did fall short of trade expectations. November crush was reported at 216.0 million bushels, which was down from the record 227.6 million bushels crushed in October. This didn’t quite hit the average trade estimate of 220.3 million bushels, but was above last November’s 193.2 million bushels. Cumulative crush through the first three months of the marketing year is 642 million bushels, over 70 million ahead of last year. This is a 12.5% year-on-year increase, with the current USDA crush estimate at a 4.5% increase. Strong domestic demand will remain important with exports continuing to disappoint.

EXPORT INSPECTIONS & SALES: Corn inspections reported 62.3 million bushels shipped this past week, up from the previous week but still ahead of the pace needed to meet current estimates. Wheat shipments improved from the prior week, totaling 17.9 million bushels and landing near the top of estimates. The Philippines imported hard red spring and hard red winter wheat from the Pacific Northwest, while Mexico imported soft red winter and hard red winter wheat. Additionally, Nigeria loaded HRW from the Gulf. Meanwhile, milo shipments totaled 2.8 million bushels for the week, with China as the only destination.  China continues to make smaller shipments of beans, potentially bringing its total to 12 million metric tons (MMT) by the end of February. In total, the soybean complex reached 29.2 million bushels, just below trade estimates. Continuing with soybean sales, another round of flash sales to unknown destinations was reported today; however, as of 11/27/2025, beans sold 40.6 mil bu 0.4 mil in new crop sales, 70.6 mil in corn sales, 0.2 mil in new crop sales, 12.6 million OC milo, and 16.9mil in OC for Wheat.



WEATHER: Hang onto your hats (and Christmas lights) today as north/northwest winds are expected to be near 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. Today’s conditions have warranted blowing dust and a Red Flag Warning. Highs today are lower near 48°F with overnight lows near 25°F and winds settling down to 12 mph. Friday warms back up to close out the work week with a high of 62°F and breezy. This weekend will be cooler with highs near 50°F before warming back up to the low 60s to kick off Christmas Week.
 

Trivia Answers

1. Maine 

2. Albert Einstein