Soybean futures witnessed a notable increase in overnight trading. Exporters have been actively selling these oilseeds to different markets, as evidenced by the sales figures. Last week alone, significant amounts of soybeans were sold to various buyers, including an unnamed one. Since the start of the marketing year on September 1, U.S. exporters have shipped a substantial amount of soybeans overseas, showing a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. Importers have also shown increased demand, with 31.6 million metric tons agreed upon in the current marketing year, a 9% rise from the previous year.
On the Chicago Board of Trade, January delivery soybean futures rose 5 3/4¢ to $9.89 1/4 a bushel overnight. Alongside this, soymeal saw a rise of 20¢ to $291.60, while soy oil fell 0.19¢ to 42.45¢ a pound. These price movements highlight the volatility and importance of soybean markets in the global agricultural landscape.
Corn futures also showed an upward trend in overnight trading. Exporters sold 454,090 metric tons of corn to Mexico, with deliveries spread across different marketing years. This follows last week's sales of 198,000 tons. U.S. exporters have been actively shipping corn to overseas buyers, with shipments reaching 9.33 million tons since September 1, a 31% increase from the same period last year. Importers have agreed to purchase 31.4 million tons of corn in the current marketing year, a significant 39% year-over-year increase.
On the Chicago Board of Trade, December delivery corn futures were up 1¢ to $4.29 a bushel. These figures demonstrate the strong demand for corn and the impact it has on global agricultural markets.
In China, soybean and corn seed output is expected to face certain changes in the 2024-2025 marketing year. Soybean seed production is forecast to decline by 3% year-over-year due to a smaller planted area. Despite this, the yield has increased by 2%. Corn seed production is expected to be mixed, with a 2% decrease from the previous year but a 26% increase compared to the prior five-year average. The planted area for corn has dropped by 7%, although it was at a 10-year high in the previous growing season. Average corn seed yield is expected to reach a five-year high due to favorable weather conditions.
Commercial soybean seed demand in China is expected to fall by 5% to about 580,000 metric tons, but high-protein varieties remain popular. These trends highlight the importance of monitoring China's agricultural seed markets and their implications for global supply.
In Kansas, light rain and snow flurries are expected in parts of central Kansas this afternoon. Despite this, there is expected to be a negligible impact on travel ahead of Thanksgiving. On Saturday, some light snow is forecasted in eastern Kansas. In central Illinois, a mix of rain and snow is expected to start today and last into the night. While little snow accumulation is expected, some areas in east-central Illinois may see up to an inch on the ground. These weather conditions can have a significant impact on agricultural activities and transportation in these regions.
Temperatures in the area are set to drop on Thanksgiving Day and continue to be low through early next week. Single-digit temperatures are forecasted starting from Friday and lasting through the weekend, which can pose challenges for agricultural operations and daily life.