Soybean Futures Extend Weekly Gains, USDA Export Sales Meet Target

Soybean futures extended their upward trajectory on Friday, with front‑month contracts gaining a solid 10½ ¢ and the August contract posting a 43½ ¢ weekly increase.

Current Momentum in Soybean Prices

■Cash Bean price rose 9¾ ¢ to $12.1475 per bushel.

■Soymeal futures advanced between $1.40 and $3.70, with August up $11.10 since the previous Friday.

■Soy Oil futures slipped, down 27 pts to 126 pts at close, with August losing 48 pts over the week.

USDA Export Data and Market Outlook

■Old‑crop export volume reached 41.38 MMT, achieving 100 % of the USDA’s projected export target.

■Cumulative sales now stand at 6.136 MMT, representing a 135.5 % increase versus the same week last year.

■Export pace lags the 101 % average of the prior three years, suggesting a modest slowdown.

Trader Positions and Market Participation

■Commitment of Traders data showed speculators adding 52,212 contracts to net long positions for the week ending July 21.

■Total net long positions sit at 124,900 contracts, indicating continued bullish sentiment.

Regional Weather Outlook and Production Implications

■NOAA 7‑day QPF forecasts less than 0.5 in of rain across most soybean‑growing regions for the coming week.

■Ohio remains an exception with spotty totals up to 1 in in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

■The 8‑14‑day outlook projects a drier pattern for the first week of August across the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Gökberk Uçar – The robust price action in soybeans, coupled with USDA export volumes meeting the target and an increase in speculative net long positions, sends a positive signal for both commodity markets and air‑cargo logistics. While the anticipated dryness in the U.S. Midwest could modestly curb freight volumes, the elevated price levels suggest stable demand for high‑value agricultural shipments. This presents an opportunity for air‑cargo operators to revisit pricing strategies and focus on premium transport services for agricultural commodities.