CHICAGO, March 5 (Reuters) - The following are U.S. expectations for the resumption of grain and soy complex trading at the Chicago Board of Trade at 8:30 a.m. CST (1430 GMT) on Thursday:
WHEAT - Up 4 to 6 cents per bushel
Short-covering and rising oil prices supported CBOT grains as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered its sixth day.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported weekly U.S. wheat export sales for 2025/26 were 203,100 metric tons. Analysts expected 200,000 to 500,000 metric tons. EXP/WHE
Canadian farmers intend to plant 26.7 million acres of wheat in 2026, Statistics Canada said. Analysts expected 26.4 million acres.
CBOT May soft red winter wheat WK26 was last up 5 cents at $5.73-1/4 per bushel. K.C. May hard red winter wheat KWK26 was last up 7 cents at $5.79-1/2 per bushel, while Minneapolis May spring wheat MWEK26 was up 4-1/4 cents at $6.13-1/2 per bushel.
CORN - Up 2 to 4 cents
Surging oil prices lifted CBOT corn, though ample supplies continued to hang over grain markets.
The Middle East conflict shut fertiliser plants in the region and disrupted shipping routes.
Weekly U.S. corn export sales for 2025/26 were 2 million metric tons. Analysts expected 600,000 to 1.6 million metric tons. EXP/CORN
U.S. corn prices were the cheapest among major exporters, traders said.
CBOT May corn CK26 was last up 2-3/4 cents at $4.46-1/2 per bushel.
SOYBEANS - Up 1 to 3 cents
CBOT soyoil set contract highs and soybeans jumped as oil prices rallied.
Bunge BG.N said it was exploring alternative shipping routes because of the Middle East conflict.
The USDA reported weekly 2025/26 U.S. soybean export sales were 383,500 metric tons. Analysts expected 300,000 to 1 million metric tons. EXP/SOY
Exporters waited to see whether China would return to the U.S. soybean market before a planned meeting between the nations' leaders.
China aims to boost grain production capacity by prioritizing yield gains rather than farmland expansion, government reports said.
CBOT May soybeans SK26 were last up 1-1/2 cents at $11.71 per bushel.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Jonathan Ananda)
((Thomas.Polansek@thomsonreuters.com))