Soybean and Grain Futures Surge in Overnight Trading

In the latest overnight trading session, soybean and grain futures have seen a notable increase, primarily driven by robust demand. Recent announcements from overseas buyers have contributed positively to market sentiments.

Egypt has secured 100,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans for delivery slated for the 2025/2026 marketing year ending on August 31, as reported by the USDA. Furthermore, China also made headlines with a purchase of 136,000 metric tons of soybeans from U.S. suppliers, set for delivery in the current marketing year.

On Friday, the USDA confirmed sales of 132,000 metric tons of corn for the ongoing season, pointing to a favorable demand landscape heading into the new year. The year 2025 had posed challenges for agricultural exports due to several tariff conflicts, especially with China, the leading importer of soybeans.

As a result of these developments, soybean futures for March delivery rose by 7¢ to $10.52¾ a bushel. Notable increases were also seen in soy meal, which rose by $1.90 to $297.90 a short ton, with soy oil gaining 0.13¢ to reach 49.43¢ a pound. Corn for March delivery similarly rose by 2¼¢, reflecting a price of $4.39¾ a bushel, with wheat futures showing a slight uptick as well.

Exports of Corn and Wheat Remaining Strong

Data through the week of December 18 indicates that U.S. exports of corn and wheat have surpassed last year’s levels, while soybean exports have shown a contrasting trend.

According to the USDA, corn exports have reached 24.618 million metric tons from the start of the marketing year on September 1, marking a 67% increase year-on-year. Wheat shipments have also seen favorable growth, totaling 14.561 million metric tons, a 24% increase over last year’s figures.

Unfortunately, soybean exports tell a different story, reporting only 14.237 million metric tons—down 46% compared to last year, largely due to the ongoing tariff disputes impacting trade with China.

Overall, U.S. agricultural product sales to international markets reflect similar increases: corn sales show a 31% rise to 49.781 million metric tons, while wheat sales to global importers jumped by 18% to 20.008 million metric tons.

Warnings Issued Amid Southern Plains Dry Spell

As the National Weather Service reports, the Southern Plains are experiencing significantly dry weather, prompting red-flag warnings for regions where hard red winter wheat is currently overwintering.

Winds sustained at 15–25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph, could exacerbate conditions, leading to low relative humidity of around 10%. The NWS emphasizes that any fire initiated in the area could spread rapidly, advising against outdoor burning activities.

In contrast, winter weather advisories have been issued for various counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where freezing rain and potential ice accumulations are expected to create hazardous conditions later today.