Grain contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher across the board on Friday, supported by expectations that the war between Russia and Ukraine will impact exports. December corn futures rose 3.50 cents to settle at 4.6750 dollars per bushel. September wheat futures gained 8 cents to close at 6.8275 dollars per bushel. November soybean futures added 8 cents to end at 12.0300 dollars per bushel. Analysts at RCM Alternatives noted that wheat and corn rebounded following reports of port attacks between Russia and Ukraine, along with extreme heat in Europe and the El Niño phenomenon potentially reducing Australian output. The US Department of Agriculture reported soybean exports of 706,634 metric tons for the 2026-2027 marketing year, including 340,000 tons to China, 256,634 tons to Mexico, and 110,000 tons to unknown destinations. The International Grains Council forecast global corn production for 2026-2027 at 1.306 billion metric tons, down from 1.343 billion tons the previous year and below the prior forecast of 1.310 billion tons, due to heatwaves in Europe.