The amount of US corn inspected for export in the week that ended May 30 totaled 743,077 mt, down 32% from the previous week, US Department of Agriculture data showed Monday.
The total in the most recent reporting period fell 52% from the 1.556 million mt inspected the same week a year ago, according to the USDA's weekly Federal Grain Inspection Service report.
The largest share of US grain exports inspected last week was taken by corn, at 39%. Wheat, at 31%, was second, followed by soybeans, at 26%.
In the 271 days of the 2018-19 marketing year, the amount of US corn inspected for export totaled 39.325 million mt, 0.67% below the same period in the previous marketing year and 67% of the USDA's recently updated 58.423 million mt projection for the 2018-19 marketing year.
US export shipments were below the average weekly pace needed to reach the USDA's estimate for exports in the ongoing marketing year.
The data showed the amount of US corn inspected for departure from the US Gulf Coast totaled 393,259 mt -- 352,213 mt of yellow corn and 41,046 mt of white corn.
The top destinations were Mexico, with 113,497 mt of yellow corn; Colombia, with 68,025 mt of yellow corn; and South Korea, with 59,104 mt of yellow corn.
The amount of US corn inspected leaving the US Pacific Coast totaled 195,082 mt of yellow corn.
The destinations were Japan, with 194,837 mt and Philippines, with 147 mt.
Inspections of corn leaving the Interior region totaled 150,164 mt of yellow corn. The top destinations were Mexico, with 136,773 mt, and Taiwan with 10,697 mt.
US corn inspected for exports is corn that has been sold and inspected during loading at export locations for shipment overseas.
Traders consider the pace needed to meet the USDA projection an indicator of demand.
Corn is the primary feedstock for ethanol production in the US and is the main competitor for dried distiller grains.
