Soybeans rise in Chicago during a week marked by volatility

The most actively traded contracts posted consistent gains

The internationalsoybeanmarket closed higher on the Chicago Board of Trade amid volatility and tactical moves by investors. According to TF Agroeconômica, the gains were driven mainly by bargain-hunting and the activity of investment funds throughout the day.

The most actively traded contracts posted steady gains. The January contract closed at 1,052.75 cents per bushel, up 1.03%, while the March contract rose 1.02%, closing at 1,067.00 cents per bushel. In the complex, January soybean meal rose 2.31%, trading at $301.50 per short ton, while soybean oil posted a slight decline of 0.37%, to 48.82 cents per pound.

The positive session took place during a week marked by volatility, driven by fresh fund buying and rumors of further purchases by China, which have yet to be officially confirmed. Nevertheless, downward pressures limited more significant gains, particularly the favorable outlook for production in South America, where weather conditions remain favorable in Brazil and Argentina.

In the case of Brazil, two factors are acting as headwinds for Chicago. The harvest already underway and the appreciation of the real against the dollar have reduced the competitiveness of exports and discouraged sales by producers. Added to this is the performance of U.S. exports, which remain well below the levels recorded in the same period last year, as well as the drop in oil prices, which has negatively impacted soybean oil.

On the other hand, expectations of record exports from Brazil in 2026 are boosting global supply. The forecast calls for shipments of 112 million tons, up from the previous year’s volume, although sales to China are expected to decline compared to 2025, affecting the balance between demand and prices in the international market.

Source: Agrolink – Leonardo Gottems Published on January 8, 2026, at 6:39 a.m.