BEIJING — Chicago soybean futures slipped on Thursday as a US Midwest field tour indicated prospects of strong yield.
The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was down 0.1 percent at $10.35 per bushel, as of 0353 GMT.
Third-day results from the closely watched Pro Farmer crop tour showed Illinois has its highest soybean pod counts in at least 22 years and its second-highest corn yield potential.
Western Iowa showed above-average yield prospects, though crop diseases could threaten final yields.
The annual tour, running through Thursday, is closely followed by the grain market and especially scrutinised this year after the US Department of Agriculture projected a much larger-than-expected 2025 corn crop.
Corn futures rose 0.19 percent to $4.05 per bushel, partly supported by brisk export demand.
Exporters sold 100,000 metric tons of US corn to Colombia and 125,741 metric tons of US corn to Mexico, all for 2025-26 delivery, according to the USDA.
South America is expecting a large corn harvest in 2025-26. Argentina’s corn planting area is expected to span some 7.8 million hectares in 2025/26, up 9.6 percent from the current season thanks to abundant rains, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Wednesday.
Wheat futures edged higher 0.38 percent to $5.30 per bushel, helped by short-covering, although ample global supply put pressure on the market.
