Soyabean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were boosted early on Thursday by stronger-than-expected weekly export sales reported before the open, traders said.
January soya was up 2-1/2 cents at $5.61-1/2 per bushel by 11:20 am CST (1720 GMT). The deferreds were up 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 cents. Citigroup, Calyon and Rand Financial were featured buyers of January soyabeans, traders said.
The US Agriculture Department said soya export sales last week totalled 952,100 tonnes - a marketing-year high and above estimates for 400,000 to 600,000 tonnes. China was the top buyer of 523,000 tonnes, including 167,700 tonnes switched from unknown destinations.
The market was also due for a short-covering bounce after lower closings the past two sessions. Traders were evening positions before USDA's monthly supply-and-demand report on Friday.
This season's sluggish export sales pace sparked analysts to forecast that USDA will raise its US soya end stocks estimate. An average of analysts' estimates pegged 2005/06 US soyabean ending stocks at 392 million bushels, up from 350 million estimated by USDA in November.
Floor traders said the market was already pricing in a carryover estimate of 400 million to 450 million bushels.
Weather remains favourable for soyabean planting and development in South America, Meteorlogix weather service said. Brazil, however, was expected to be mostly dry over the next week.
Soya products futures were mixed, with soyameal gaining on soyaoil amid some meal/oil spreading. December soyameal was up $2.20 at $175.80 per ton and January was $2.60 higher at $175.90. December soyaoil was down 0.06 cent per lb at 20.94 cents and January was down 0.04 at 21.15 cents.
Soyameal remained supported by firm US cash markets amid some western plants going down next week and mechanical problems due to the cold weather, dealers said. Soyameal futures were underpinned by no deliveries on the December contract. Registrations with the CBOT were unchanged at 238 lots.
CBOT soyaoil registrations were unchanged at 4,621 lots.
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