The Chicago soybean complex eased on Friday, but was on track for another weekly gain, amid sustained Chinese buying and growing concerns over lower US production.
The September soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade slipped 0.43% to $12.15 per bushel in early trade, but was set to rise more than 3% over the week.
The September CBOT soybean oil contract dipped 0.18% to 71.05 cents per pound, but was on track for a third weekly gain of around 2%.
The market remained optimistic that China will meet its target volume of US soybeans, following series of purchases since late June.
China has continued importing soybeans despite rising soybean oil inventories, with market intelligence provider SunSirs reporting a 2% month-over-month increase in commercial stockpiles to 1.4 million metric tons. The figure also represents a 5% rise from year-ago levels.
"While the (Chinese) market shows short-term strength, the fundamental factor of rising inventories is expected to limit the upside potential for futures prices, resulting in an overall bearish influence," SunSirs said.
Meanwhile, the ProFarmer's crop tour in the Midwest has so far shown year-over-year declines in pod count in South Dakota, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, and Illinois.
This has raised concerns over lower yields, despite improved weather conditions in the region. Although temperatures are forecast to be lower through September, rainfall has resulted in flooding in some areas, potentially impacting crop growth, Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing told AgWeb.
"In the near term, CBOT soybeans are expected to trade in a high-level range-bound pattern," price reporting agency MySteel said.
In Asia, Malaysian palm oil futures reached their highest since December 2024 on Friday, as Indonesia's full implementation of a higher 50% biodiesel blend approaches and as the supply outlook remains tight.
The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives' September crude palm oil contract rose for a fifth consecutive session by a further 1.20% to 4,791 Malaysian ringgit ($1,170.47) per metric ton. The contract reached a new contract high and posted a 4.70% weekly gain.
The October contract jumped 1.27% to reach a new contract high of 4,934 ringgit/mt, bringing weekly gains to 4.76%.
Buyers of Indonesian palm oil are reportedly scaling up purchases ahead of B50's full implementation in October, following a three-month transition period.
In Malaysian, however, cargo surveyor estimates reportedly showed a 5.5% to 13.2% month-over-month decline in shipments for the Aug. 1-20 period. The latest trend reverses export growth recorded in June and July, raising concerns about near-term demand.
Competitiveness of Malaysian exports has dampened over the week as the local currency firmed against the US dollar by more than 1%, making cargoes more expensive for international buyers.
Nonetheless, Chinese purchases this week and a potential demand shift from sunflower oil to other edible oils amid Black Sea disruptions provided some upside, Sunvin commodity research head Anilkumar Bagani told Bernama.
Going forward, prospects of lower supply due to Indonesia's biofuel policy and the El Nino weather phenomenon will continue to support prices.
In September, crude palm oil futures are expected to remain firm above 4,600 ringgit/mt, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council said.
Prices could also find support above 4,900 ringgit/mt and resistance at 5,050 ringgit/mt, according to Iceberg X trader David Ng, as cited by Bernama.
In the US, September ethanol prices on the NYMEX climbed 1.72% to about $2.08 per gallon on Thursday, following an extension of the waiver for E15 sales through Aug. 31.
E15 is a gasoline grade blended with 15% ethanol, a richer mix compared with the standard 10% blend.