U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on South American rainfall

Russian export tax supports U.S. wheat; corn follows soybeans

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Published: January 19, 2021

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CBOT March 2021 soybeans with 20-, 30- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures slid on Tuesday as rain across South America strengthened crop prospects and bolstered the global supply outlook, traders said.

Corn followed soybeans lower, but was supported by strong export demand and possible export limits in Ukraine.

Wheat futures fell slightly, but were bolstered by an export tax in top-producer Russia.

The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) fell 31 cents to $13.85-3/4 per bushel, losing 2.2 per cent, its biggest drop since Oct. 12, 2020 (all figures US$).

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CBOT corn slipped 5-1/2 cents to $5.26 per bushel, while wheat shed 3-1/4 cents to end at $6.72-1/4 per bushel.

Rains across much of Brazil’s growing regions bolstered parched crops, as the country slowly begins its soybean harvest, which could ease supply worries.

“Each week we go by, we’re picking up harvest in South America,” said Don Roose, president of U.S. Commodities.

Falling palm oil futures further weighed on soybeans, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement of fresh export sales of 132,000 tonnes of soybeans to China for shipment in the 2021-22 marketing year did little to strengthen the market.

Despite the drop, there is still upside potential in soybeans, according to Dan Anderson, broker at ED+F Man Capital.

“If you look at the rally, the dips have been shallow and we tend to remain fairly bullish,” he said.

Corn fell after gaining early, as discussions in Ukraine about possible export limits offered support.

USDA reported private U.S. corn sales totaling 128,000 tonnes to Japan and 100,000 tonnes to Israel, both for shipment in the 2020-21 marketing year.

Top importer China bought a record 11.3 million tonnes of imported corn last year, according to General Administration of Customs data.

Wheat, too, benefited from China’s increased imports, with a record 8.38 million tonnes of wheat imported in 2020.

— Reporting for Reuters by Christopher Walljasper in Chicago; additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Naveen Thukral in Singapore.

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