Soybean prices rise on the possibility of trade talks between the US and China

16-Feb-2026 12:45 PM

Chicago. The US and Chinese presidents are scheduled to meet to discuss soybean sales. It is believed that China may agree to increase soybean imports if the US president exerts more pressure.

The psychological impact of this expectation has driven soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) to their highest level since November 12, 2025. According to informed sources, the meeting between the presidents could lead to an agreement to resume trade activities between the two countries for at least the next year.

It is noteworthy that the US and Chinese presidents also met last year, and an agreement was reached on the import and export of US soybeans, but it yielded no meaningful results. Chinese buyers had entered into some contracts to import soybeans from the US, but delivery remained uncertain.

In the Latin American country of Brazil, soybean production is expected to rise rapidly to an all-time high this year. Harvesting and arrivals of the new crop have begun in earnest, significantly boosting exports. However, American farmers are hopeful that China may purchase soybeans from the United States following the President's meeting.

The US Department of Agriculture has not made any changes to its soybean export forecast, indicating that it is not confident of a significant increase in shipments to China. Brazil is capable of meeting China's soybean demand. If the US were to increase its exports there, it would have to keep its soybean prices slightly lower than Brazil's. However, the opposite is happening. Soybean prices have remained stable in Brazil but have risen in the United States.