Soybeans Drop on US–China Talks Uncertainty

2026-03-16 05:24 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

Soybean futures slid more than 2% to around $12 per bushel, retreating from a nearly two-year high, amid concerns over possible delays in US trade negotiations with China, the world’s largest buyer of the oilseed.

The drop followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who said he could postpone a planned summit with China’s Xi Jinping if Beijing does not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

Traders worry that any delay in negotiations could stall a recovery in sales, after a summit between the two leaders late last year had previously triggered a surge in Chinese purchases of US soybeans following months of weak demand.

Buying, however, slowed again after reaching an initial 12-million-ton target.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route disrupted since the start of the Iran conflict, has continued to support oilseeds through elevated energy prices and geopolitical risks.



News Stream
Soybeans Drop on US–China Talks Uncertainty
Soybean futures slid more than 2% to around $12 per bushel, retreating from a nearly two-year high, amid concerns over possible delays in US trade negotiations with China, the world’s largest buyer of the oilseed. The drop followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who said he could postpone a planned summit with China’s Xi Jinping if Beijing does not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Traders worry that any delay in negotiations could stall a recovery in sales, after a summit between the two leaders late last year had previously triggered a surge in Chinese purchases of US soybeans following months of weak demand. Buying, however, slowed again after reaching an initial 12-million-ton target. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route disrupted since the start of the Iran conflict, has continued to support oilseeds through elevated energy prices and geopolitical risks.
2026-03-16
Soybean Prices Near Two-Year High
Soybean futures climbed back above $12 per bushel, reaching their highest level since May 2024, as elevated energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty continued to support oilseeds. Investors remain focused on the disruptions caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Crude oil resumed its rally despite the International Energy Agency approving its largest-ever release of emergency reserves. While some market participants hope for a quick resolution to the conflict and a resumption of fuel and fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of an intense day of strikes, and recent Iranian attempts to mine the Strait suggest continued disruption. Amid these tensions, attention shifted away from ample global grain supplies, pushing soybean prices to multi-year highs, while traders largely dismissed an uneventful WASDE report released Tuesday.
2026-03-11
Soybean Futures Retreat
Soybean futures retreated to around $11.70 per bushel after briefly hitting a nearly three-year high in early March, tracking a decline in crude oil prices following President Trump’s comments that the ongoing Middle East conflict may be nearing an end. Soybean prices had climbed on Monday as rising energy costs often ripple through agricultural markets, with crops like soybeans and corn widely used in biofuel production and attracting flows from commodity funds. Meanwhile, US soybean ending stocks are expected to fall 6 million bushels to 344 million, according to the WASDE report. Brazil’s soybean production is also forecast slightly lower at 179.06 million tons, down about 1 million tons. Export inspections showed 879,190 tons of soybeans shipped in the week ending March 5, down 24% from last week. China received 411,462 tons, Egypt 161,746 tons, and Indonesia 118,747 tons.
2026-03-10