Soybean futures extended their decline on Monday, trading near $11.60 per bushel, pressured by sluggish demand for U.S. supplies and stiff competition from South American exporters. The latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that weekly soybean export sales for the 2025/26 season fell to 353,300 tons, an 18% drop from the prior four-week average. The figures underscore muted international interest as lower-priced Brazilian cargoes continue to dominate the global market.
The downside, however, was partially cushioned by rising crude oil prices amid escalating tensions involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran, which lent support to biofuel-related demand. Higher energy prices generally bolster consumption of soybean oil, a key input in biodiesel production, and this, in turn, provides indirect support to soybean prices.
At the same time, market participants remain focused on the prospects for U.S.-China trade negotiations, watching closely for any indications of stronger buying interest from China, the world’s largest soybean importer.
