Soybean futures hovered around $11.6 per bushel, staying below a near two-year high reached on March 12, as investors remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical and trade developments. Attention is on US President Trump’s long-awaited visit to China, the world’s largest buyer of the oilseed. Recently postponed due to the escalating Middle East conflict, the visit has been rescheduled for May 14–15, where talks with Xi Jinping are expected to cover trade, tariffs, and agriculture, shaping demand expectations. Meanwhile, US farmers are expected to increase soybean plantings while cutting corn acreage as higher fertilizer and fuel costs make soybeans relatively more attractive. This comes as rising energy prices amid the Iran war continue to lift input costs across the farm sector, adding uncertainty to production outlooks. Stronger biofuel requirements are also supporting soybean oil consumption, helping offset cautious export demand and keeping prices range-bound.
