CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Corn, soybean barge bids stay mostly flat

Basis bids for corn and soybeans shipped by barge to the U.S. Gulf Coast for export were mostly steady on Friday, grain dealers said.
* U.S. corn export demand was sluggish, traders said.
* Traders are assessing the remaining potential for U.S. soybean export sales as rival Brazil, the world’s top supplier of the oilseed, harvests its crop. Signs indicate the U.S. program is winding down, CHS Hedging said.
* Brazilian farmers have harvested about 24% of their soybean area, compared to about 17% a year ago, consultancy Patria Agronegocios said.
* CIF Gulf corn barges loaded in February were bid at 54 cents over Chicago Board of Trade March CH24 futures. March barge bids were about 56 cents over futures.
* FOB basis offers for February corn loadings stayed around 69 cents over futures. March premiums were steady at around 64 cents over futures.
* CIF Gulf soybean barges loaded in February and March were each bid 69 cents over Chicago Board of Trade March soy SH24 futures.
* Export premiums for soybeans loaded in February were steady at 80 cents over futures. March offers were flat at about 76 cents over futures.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)