Core Insights - Corn futures increased by 2 to 3 cents across most contracts, indicating a firming trend in the market [1] - Export inspections revealed that 1.6 million metric tons (MMT) of corn were shipped in the week ending October 2, marking a 3.94% increase from the previous week and a 68.74% increase year-over-year [1] - The top destinations for corn exports included Mexico (457,117 MT), Japan (231,859 MT), and Spain (207,861 MT) [1] - Total marketing year shipments reached 6.709 MMT, which is 56.06% larger compared to the same period last year [1] Crop Progress and Conditions - The USDA's Crop Progress report was not published due to a government shutdown, but the trade anticipated that corn harvest would be approximately 29% complete as of Sunday, with 65% of the crop rated as good/excellent, a decrease of 1% from the previous week [2] Brazilian Corn Market - AgRural reported that 40% of the Brazilian first corn crop was planted as of Thursday, compared to 37% during the same week last year [3] - Brazilian corn exports in September totaled 7.56 MMT, reflecting a 10.43% increase from August and a 17.77% increase year-over-year [3] - Closing prices for corn futures were as follows: December 25 at $4.21 3/4 (up 2 3/4 cents), March 26 at $4.38 1/4 (up 2 1/2 cents), and May 26 at $4.47 1/4 (up 2 cents) [3]