Soybeans drop as harvest accelerates; wheat, corn firm

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CHICAGO- US soybean futures fell to two-week lows on Friday on an accelerating US harvest and disappointing demand from China as purchases have not lived up to trade expectations since Beijing offered crushers a quota of duty-free imports early this week.

Wheat firmed for just the second time this week on optimism the United States and China are moving closer to a trade deal that could bolster American farm product exports, while corn ended flat.

Grain traders have focused on US Midwest corn and soy harvest weather as farmers have struggled to gather developing crops. Storms are expected to chase farmers from fields in the eastern Corn Belt this weekend ahead of a drier weather pattern.

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The market has also remained cautious this week with US and Chinese negotiators working to nail down a phase one trade agreement ahead of an expected meeting next month between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump at a summit in Chile.

Trade officials from both countries are “close to finalizing” some parts of an agreement after high-level telephone discussions on Friday, the US Trade Representative’s office said.

Accelerated US agricultural product purchases in return for relief from US tariffs on Chinese goods are among measures being discussed.

“Based on comments from both the US and China, we’re going to have the beginnings of a deal at the APEC conference,” said Jim Gerlach, president of A/C Trading, referring to the summit in Chile.

“Demand is what’s been holding the market down so whenever you get good news on demand it takes a lot of pressure off the market.”

Optimism for larger US soybean purchases had propped up the market earlier in the week before Friday’s profit-taking retreat.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) November soybeans fell 13 cents to $9.20-1/4 a bushel, the lowest since Oct. 10. The actively traded contract shed 1.5 percent in the week, its second straight weekly drop after hitting a four-month high at mid-month.

December corn futures ended unchanged at $3.86-3/4 a bushel, ending the week down 1.1 percent for a second consecutive weekly decline.

CBOT December wheat settled 1-3/4 cents higher at $5.17-3/4 per bushel. The contract was down 2.7 percent in the week, its first weekly drop in two months.

Argentina’s presidential election on Sunday is being monitored to see if it changes export tax policy in the major wheat, corn and soybean supplier in the midst of an economic crisis. — Reuters

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