Tuesday's Bean Market Downturn: Morning Momentum Fades Into Afternoon Weakness

WhaleWatcher · 2026-01-12T17:57:06+00:00

Soybean futures dropped 5 to 7 cents, with the national average cash price at $9.82 1/4. International demand remained strong, especially from China. Export commitments are down 31% year-on-year, while Brazil's December exports showed resilience with a 68.6% increase.

WhaleWatcher

2026-01-12 17:57:06

Abstract generation in progress

Soybean futures experienced a notable retreat during Tuesday’s trading session, with contracts recording declines ranging from 5 to 7 cents by the close. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price settled 5 cents lower, finishing at $9.82 1/4. Meanwhile, Soymeal futures showed relative strength, gaining between 20 cents and $1.30 by day’s end, while Soy Oil futures moved in the opposite direction, surrendering 38 to 47 points.

Trade Flows and International Demand

International buyers remained active in the soybean market this week. Reuters documented China’s acquisition of 10 separate soybean cargoes destined for shipment between March and May. The USDA confirmed a portion of this activity, registering a private export sale of 336,000 metric tons to China. The agency also revised its December 30 flash sale figures, correcting the previous report from 231,000 MT to a more precise breakdown: 136,000 MT allocated to China and 206,700 MT to unknown destinations.

Cumulative Export Trends and Regional Dynamics

Total soybean export commitments have accumulated to 27.698 million metric tons—a significant 31% decline compared to the same period last year. This figure represents just 51% of the USDA’s official projection and trails the historical 52% average pace. European Union soybean imports tell a similar story of weakness, with cumulative imports from July 1 through January 4 totaling 6.46 million metric tons, falling short of the previous year’s comparable period by 0.88 million metric tons, according to European Commission data.

In contrast, Brazil’s soybean export performance demonstrated resilience in December, reaching 3.38 million metric tons—an impressive 68.6% surge compared to December 2024, though showing a 19.4% pullback from November levels.

Detailed Contract Settlements

The morning’s initial gains could not sustain through the afternoon session:

Jan 26 Soybeans: Settled at $10.42, registering a loss of 5 1/4 cents
Nearby Cash: Closed at $9.82 1/4, down 5 cents
Mar 26 Soybeans: Finished at $10.56 1/4, declining 5 3/4 cents
May 26 Soybeans: Ended at $10.68, retreating 6 1/4 cents

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