The July soybean contract traded on Chicago Stock Exchange (CBOT) closed this Monday (18) with a significant increase of 36.00 points and 3.06%, quoted at US$ cents 1,213.00/bushel; the August contract jumped 34.50 points and 2.93%, to US$ cents 1,211.00/bushel. In the case of derivatives, the oil and the bran Prices rose 2.37% and 0.06%, respectively. In this trading session, prices were driven by an adjustment movement in positions after losses last week, in addition to market optimism with the news that China will increase purchases of agricultural products from the United States in the coming years. According to a statement released on Sunday (17) by the White House, Beijing has committed to buying at least US$17 billion in American agricultural products between 2026 and 2028. The amount does not include the soybean purchase commitments made by China in October 2025, something that was already expected by market agents. The agreement was reached after meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held last week. In addition to soybeans, the understanding provides for tariff reductions and increased Chinese purchases of beef and poultry from the US. On the demand side, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) It was reported that US soybean shipments totaled 484,000 tons in the week ending May 14. This volume was 27% lower than the 663,000 tons recorded the previous week, but it was within market expectations, which ranged between 450,000 and 650,000 tons. In the fields, heavy rains interrupted some agricultural work in the western Corn Belt, the main soybean and corn producing region of the US. According to the daily weather bulletin from… USDASevere storms hit areas near the Great Lakes region. "Western Iowa experienced several tornadoes last night, while heavy rains caused flash flooding in the lower Missouri Valley, especially in the northern and central regions of the state," the department highlighted. On the radar, the market awaits the release of the weekly update from… USDA about the conditions and stages of North American crops.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.