In the key grain market of Rosario, soy closed at 1,715-1,750 pesos ($324-$331) per tonne, down from Monday's 1,725-1,760 pesos. Losses in benchmark Chicago trade and thin local buying set the tone for the session.

Trade volume on Tuesday was about 8,000 tonnes, down from about 15,000 tonnes on Monday.

US wheat futures were nearly unchanged on the close Tuesday after technical buying pulled prices up from overnight lows.

Soymeal animal feed from No. 1 world supplier Argentina could lose some of its edge to US suppliers due to a fall in protein content of soybeans grown in the South American country.

<Center><b><i>Copyright Reuters, 2013</b></i><br></center>