Soybean futures climbed more than 1% to near $12 per bushel, rebounding from losses seen on May 15 after new details emerged from President Donald Trump’s two-day summit in China regarding agricultural trade commitments. The White House said that China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion worth of US agricultural products annually through 2028, intended to supplement earlier soybean purchase agreements. After Trump’s meeting with President Xi last year, China had initially committed to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans, alongside a broader pledge to purchase 25 million tons annually for three years. While the announcement was largely welcomed by US farmers seeking clearer demand signals following the summit, they still face persistent pressure from relatively low crop prices and elevated production costs in recent years. These challenges have been further intensified by Trump’s tariffs and rising fertilizer costs linked to the broader conflict in the Middle East.

Soybeans rose to 1,201.64 USd/Bu on May 18, 2026, up 2.09% from the previous day. Over the past month, Soybeans's price has risen 3.08%, and is up 14.36% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Soybeans reached an all time high of 1794.75 in September of 2012. Soybeans - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on May 18 of 2026.

Soybeans rose to 1,201.64 USd/Bu on May 18, 2026, up 2.09% from the previous day. Over the past month, Soybeans's price has risen 3.08%, and is up 14.36% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Soybeans is expected to trade at 1184.71 USd/BU by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate it to trade at 1239.85 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Soybeans 1,199.87 22.87 1.94% 2.93% 14.19% May/18
Wheat 654.32 18.57 2.92% 9.60% 23.69% May/18
Lumber 589.00 3.00 0.51% 1.03% -2.34% May/15
Cheese 1.66 -0.0059 -0.36% 0.43% -10.09% May/18
Palm Oil 4,523.00 103.00 2.33% 0.56% 16.45% May/18
Milk 16.96 0 0% 0.59% -8.72% May/15
Cocoa 3,880.96 -121.04 -3.02% 14.31% -64.41% May/18
Cotton 81.71 1.100 1.36% 2.09% 24.44% May/18
Rubber 221.30 -1.00 -0.45% 9.99% 28.07% May/18
Orange Juice 164.45 -16.85 -9.29% -7.25% -34.69% May/17
Coffee 267.41 0.51 0.19% -7.07% -28.69% May/18
Oat 371.51 7.7560 2.13% 15.11% 3.99% May/18
Wool 1,876.00 0 0% 2.79% 57.78% May/18
Rice 12.57 -0.1850 -1.45% 13.91% -0.95% May/18
Canola 738.10 2.10 0.29% 1.51% 4.79% May/17
Sugar 14.80 0.004 0.03% 8.53% -15.31% May/18
Corn 469.60 13.8516 3.04% 3.89% 4.94% May/18



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
United States Corn Stocks 9.02 13.28 Billion Bushels Mar 2026
United States Soybean Stocks 2.10 3.29 Billion Bushels Mar 2026
United States Wheat Stocks 1.30 1.68 Billion Bushels Mar 2026

Soybeans
Soybeans are one of the most important agricultural commodities globally, widely used for food products, animal feed, and biofuels. As a result, soybean prices are closely followed due to their impact on food supply chains, livestock production, and global trade flows. Soybean futures are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and serve as a global benchmark for pricing. The market is dominated by major producers and exporters, including the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, which together account for the majority of global production and exports. On the demand side, China is by far the largest importer, followed by the European Union, Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan. Soybean prices displayed on Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments and are intended to provide a general market reference only. These prices do not represent official benchmark prices. The data is supplied by a third party and, while efforts are made to ensure its reliability, Trading Economics does not verify the data and makes no representations or warranties.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1201.64 1177.00 1794.75 401.50 1977 - 2026 USd/BU Daily

News Stream
Soybeans Climb on US–China Farm Deal
Soybean futures climbed more than 1% to near $12 per bushel, rebounding from losses seen on May 15 after new details emerged from President Donald Trump’s two-day summit in China regarding agricultural trade commitments. The White House said that China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion worth of US agricultural products annually through 2028, intended to supplement earlier soybean purchase agreements. After Trump’s meeting with President Xi last year, China had initially committed to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans, alongside a broader pledge to purchase 25 million tons annually for three years. While the announcement was largely welcomed by US farmers seeking clearer demand signals following the summit, they still face persistent pressure from relatively low crop prices and elevated production costs in recent years. These challenges have been further intensified by Trump’s tariffs and rising fertilizer costs linked to the broader conflict in the Middle East.
2026-05-18
Soybeans Pressured Despite US-China Optimism
Soybean futures fell to below $12 per bushel, following a 3% drop in the prior session as traders remained cautious despite potential large-scale Chinese purchases of American agricultural goods. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said China is expected to make “double-digit billion” annual purchases of US farm products over the next three years, while President Donald Trump said Beijing would buy “a lot of soybeans” from US farmers. Greer also pointed to an existing agreement for China to purchase 25 million tons of US soybeans annually over the coming years. Still, sentiment remained restrained as markets awaited concrete details on the timing and scale of purchases, after the first day of talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to produce confirmed trade commitments. Meanwhile, the USDA projected US soybean stocks to decline to 310 million bushels by the end of the 2026 to 2027 marketing year, down from 340 million expected at the end of the current season.
2026-05-15
Soybeans Fall Sharply
Soybean futures fell nearly 3% to below $12 per bushel, retreating from a two-year high of $12.3 reached on May 13, as traders took profits following recent gains linked to Tuesday’s WASDE report and reacted to the lack of concrete agricultural announcements from the US-China summit. Market sentiment was weighed down by indications that no fresh Chinese soybean purchases are imminent, with traders noting that China is unlikely to go beyond its existing commitment to buy 25 million metric tons. China has reduced US soybean imports significantly in recent years, increasingly sourcing from Brazil due to lower prices and strong supply availability. According to the US Department of Agriculture, US agricultural exports to China fell to $8.37 billion last year from $24.41 billion in 2024. The USDA also projected US soybean stocks to decline to 310 million bushels by the end of the 2026 to 2027 marketing year, down from 340 million expected at the end of the current season.
2026-05-14