Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
In Ukraine, high rapeseed prices and lower harvest forecasts for soybeans and sunflowers due to heat waves in the south and east are keeping soybean starting prices high. Export purchase prices for soybeans from the new harvest, which will be delivered to Black Sea ports in October/November, have risen from a low of USD 355-370/tonne to USD 385-390/tonne in recent weeks despite falling stock market prices. Exporters are actively contracting for new crop soybeans, but farmers are not in a hurry to close deals as the crop is uncertain.
Processors are offering 16000-17500 UAH/ton for old crop soybeans with delivery to the factory, but growers expect prices to rise to 19000-20000 UAH/ton following sunflower prices, which have already risen to 19-20 thousand UAH with delivery to the factory.
November soybean futures in Chicago fell 7.8% over the month to USD 374/ton as soybean crop conditions improved and US crop forecasts came in higher. Global prices remain under pressure due to lower demand from China.
China’s soybean imports fell by 1.3% to 58.33 million tons in the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, although the country imported 9.85 million tons of soybeans in July, an increase of 2.9% compared to July 2023, according to the State Administration of Customs.
China’s National Grain and Oil Information Center said soybean stocks at processing plants were more than 7 million tons in July, while soymeal stocks rose 29% to 1.38 million tons, up 86.5% from July 2023. 8 million tons of soybeans will be delivered to China’s ports in August and another 7.6 million tons in September
Brazil exported a record 11.2 million tons of soybeans in July (9.7 million tons in July 2023) thanks to strong shipments to China.