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New U.S. soybean export sale to China reported, but not verified

China has reportedly purchased more U.S. soybeans. AgriVisor Senior Market Analyst Dale Durchholz tells Brownfield that reports about the sale have a wide range of totals, “We do hear stories coming out one newswire that suggests about 180,000 tons, but we’ve also seen some stories floating around that up to maybe 15 cargos were bought for March delivery. There is some activity happening, but with the USDA being closed down right now and the partial government shutdown, there’s no way to confirm any of this.”

New U.S. export sales are reported by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, one of the department’s branches affected by the shutdown. The USDA’s weekly export inspections report is ongoing, at least as long as funding holds out, and for the week ending January 3rd, the department says 74,166 tons of U.S. soybeans left the Pacific Northwest, headed for China, along with 19,380 tons of U.S. wheat.

Durchholz says more reports of sales are possible with this week’s trade discussions between the U.S. and China.