Free of charge

Soybeans: South American municipalities tighten controls against the will of their governments

March 31, 2020 at 3:47 PM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

CHICAGO. Soybean markets were weaker in the USA and South America, but firm in Western Europe. Efforts are underway between the USA and Russia to jointly support the crashed crude oil market by cutting crude oil output by more than 20% in order to avert the threatened wave of US bankruptcies for shale oil producers. Argentina's and Brazil's municipalities have tightened border controls against the will of their governments because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The international soybean markets were under pressure. Chicago recorded a decline of 1.5% in US soybeans to USD 8.765 per bushel, US soybean meal fell by 1.3%, and only soybean oil showed weak growth of 0.7%. In the USA, the focus was on the development of the Covid-19 pandemic, quarterly inventories and acreage estimates as well as figures from the export inspection. The number of Covid-19-infected patients in the US rose by 15% overnight to 164,610. Analysts expect the quarterly stocks of soybeans as of 1 March to decline to 2.228 billion bushel. The Bloomberg survey shows soybean acreage of 85 million acres compared to 76.1 million acres last year. Export inspection fell to 414,000 metric tonnes, which was at the lower end of the trade estimate. The USDA reported an export transaction of 285,000 metric tonnes of soybeans to buyers in Mexico with delivery dates in the coming fiscal year. Cumulative soybean exports for the current fiscal year now amount to 31.6 million metric tonnes and are 7.9% higher than last year.

Soy meal LP (44/7), prices in EUR/mt

FOB

4/20

5/20

6-7/20

8-10/20

Rotterdam

-

350.00

331.00

316.00

Hamburg

-

350.00

323.00

310.00

Mainz

380.00

361.00

333.00

320.00

Straubing

400.00

374.00

354.00

337.00

Trade sources

Export delays in South America
Argentinean shipments of soybean meal and soybeans were again delayed as the government stepped up inspections of incoming cargo ships to ensure that crew members were not introducing the coronavirus. The inspections greatly delayed the few shipments after authorities and cities violated the government decree that export activities should not be interrupted for safety reasons. According to the grain exchange in Buenos Aires, 4.6% of soybeans were recently harvested in Argentina. Commodity deliveries are also slowing down in Brazil, as logistics are being disrupted due to increasing numbers of cases of Covid-19-infected people. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Trade, the country is nevertheless expected to export 9.5 million metric tonnes of soybeans in March, which would be 12% higher than last year. However, in the wake of the corona crisis, shipments are expected to decrease significantly in April, with 76% of the Brazilian soybean crop being harvested, according to AgRural. This corresponds roughly to last year's figure. Soybean meal in Western Europe tended stable to firm.

Categories:

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Oilseeds
Dec 31, 2025
SEEHEIM/PRAGUE. The year 2025 had a lot to offer: new regulations and record prices were the order of the day in many markets, and climatic extremes were noticeable in many areas. Our business partner from the flaxseed market explains how market players have been facing these hurdles and what they expect for the coming year 2026. Read the full interview here.
Oilseeds
Dec 29, 2025
SEEHEIM/IZMIR. The year 2025 had a lot to offer: new regulations and record prices were the order of the day in many markets, and climatic extremes were noticeable in many areas. Our business partner from the Turkish dried fruit market explains how market players have been facing these hurdles and what they expect for the coming year 2026. Read the full interview here.
Oilseeds
Dec 26, 2025
SEEHEIM/SOFIA. The year 2025 had a lot to offer: new regulations and record prices were the order of the day in many markets, and climatic extremes were noticeable in many areas. Our business partner from the sunflower seed market explains how market players have been facing these hurdles and what they expect for the coming year 2026. Read the full interview here.
Grains
Dec 19, 2025
BRUSSELS. Pressure is mounting for wheat just before Christmas. Corn is not competitive enough for the EU’s feed industry. The lack of clarity over the Trump administration’s biofuel policy is weighing on soybeans. China can hardly wait for the arrival of the Australian rapeseed crop.