Export premiums for soyabeans shipped from the US Gulf Coast were mostly steady on Thursday, underpinned by tight spot supplies and good demand for near term shipments, traders said. Top soya importer China is filling its October and November shipping needs with purchases from the United States amid strong near term crush margins, traders said.
The US Department of Agriculture on Thursday confirmed private sales of 120,000 tonnes of US soyabeans to China and 151,000 tonnes to unknown destinations. The USDA also confirmed 120,000 tonnes of optional-origin sales to China. China imported 7.6 million tonnes of soyabeans in August, down about 1.5 percent from the prior month, according to the latest state customs data. Year-to-date imports are up about 3 percent.
Export traders are monitoring flooding in the upper Midwest after southern Minnesota and surrounding areas received heavy rain this week. The Mississippi River is forecast to swell in the coming days and some river elevators may not be able to load barges, traders said. Corn export premiums at the Gulf were weaker as CIF basis values eased and demand for fresh supplies was light, traders said.
Wheat export premiums held unchanged on limited demand and ample global supplies. Egypt's GASC bought 240,000 tonnes of Russian wheat via a tender on Thursday after relaxing a zero-tolerance policy on ergot fungus. FOB basis offer for soyabeans exported in early October were around 115 cents per bushel above Chicago Board of Trade November futures, which closed a penny higher at $9.76-1/2 a bushel.