Soybean Futures Slide Amid Renewed US-China Trade Tensions

2025-10-13 09:50 By Dongting Liu 1 min. read

Soybean futures hovered around $10 per bushel, holding their lowest level since early October, as renewed US-China trade tensions dampened hopes that Beijing would lift its boycott of American soybeans.

On October 10, President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, though the White House later signaled openness to renegotiations.

It remains unclear whether Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for talks at the upcoming APEC summit.

Meanwhile, US farmers await a $10–15 billion aid package stalled by the government shutdown.

On the data front, China’s soybean imports hit a record 12.9 million tons in September.

The trade dispute previously led China to bypass the North American market, turning to South American suppliers instead.

In contrast, US farmers face a bumper harvest and mounting stocks of unsellable soybeans.



News Stream
Soybeans Rebounds After USDA Annual Report
Soybean futures rose past 11.7 dollars per bushel after USDA data confirmed a sharp reduction in inventories and shifts in planting intentions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The USDA Grain Stocks report revealed that US soybean inventories plunged to 2.10 billion bushels in the first quarter of 2026 reflecting a substantial drawdown from 3.29 billion recorded previously as global supply chains faced the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This bullish momentum was partially offset by the Prospective Plantings report which showed US farmers intend to increase soybean acreage to 84.70 million acres for the 2026 season. While higher fertilizer and fuel costs from the five week war in the Persian Gulf make the oilseed relatively more attractive than corn, the market remains focused on the upcoming trade talks between President Trump and China.
2026-03-31
Soybeans Hits 4-week Low
Soybeans decreased to 1150.00 USd/Bu, the lowest since March 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, Soybeans gained 0.91%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 12.2%.
2026-03-31
Soybeans Remain Below 2-Year High
Soybean futures hovered around $11.6 per bushel, staying below a near two-year high reached on March 12, as investors remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical and trade developments. Attention is on US President Trump's long-awaited visit to China, the world’s largest buyer of the oilseed. Recently postponed due to the escalating Middle East conflict, the visit has been rescheduled for May 14–15, where talks with Xi Jinping are expected to cover trade, tariffs, and agriculture, shaping demand expectations. Meanwhile, US farmers are expected to increase soybean plantings while cutting corn acreage as higher fertilizer and fuel costs make soybeans relatively more attractive. This comes as rising energy prices amid the Iran war continue to lift input costs across the farm sector, adding uncertainty to production outlooks. Stronger biofuel requirements are also supporting soybean oil consumption, helping offset cautious export demand and keeping prices range-bound.
2026-03-30