Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures hit their highest level in more than a week on Thursday as technical buying helped the market recover from a three-month low reached on Monday, analysts said.
China’s soybean imports hit the highest level ever for the month of June, a Reuters calculation of customs data showed on Monday, driven by a surge in shipments from top supplier Brazil.
The Chinese embassy in Ottawa criticized duties slapped by Canada this week on Chinese imported steel, saying on Friday they violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupted the global trade order.
Canada's International Trade Minister said on Thursday that there was interest from both sides to advance trade talks with South American bloc Mercosur, as Ottawa seeks new deals in a push to diversify from the U.S.
Brazilian meatpackers are weighing whether to make new shipments of beef products to the United States after President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazil last week, Roberto Perosa, president of Brazilian beef lobby ABIEC, said.
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures jumped on hopes for U.S. export demand on Wednesday, while corn futures rose for a third day to extend a recovery from contract lows, analysts said.
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures touched a two-week high on Friday on worries that heat may threaten U.S. crops and expectations that the country's biofuel policy would boost demand for soyoil, analysts said.
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures extended slight gains on Tuesday as short covering and bargain buying continued to support a rebound from contract lows reached during the previous session.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said Canada will introduce a tariff rate quota for countries with which it has free trade agreements, excluding the United States, to protect the domestic steel industry.