Soybeans Feeling Jolly Early on Christmas Eve

Market Overview - Soybean prices increased by 5 to 7 cents on Christmas Eve, while futures contracts decreased by 1 to 2 cents at the Tuesday close [1] - Open interest fell by 9,511 contracts on Tuesday, primarily due to a reduction of 20,552 contracts in January futures, although other front months saw an increase [1] - The national average cash price for soybeans was reported at $9.80 3/4, down 3 cents from the previous day [1] Futures Performance - Soymeal futures experienced gains ranging from $1.10 to $2.50, while Soy Oil futures declined by 25 to 39 points [1] - Specific closing prices for January, March, and May 2026 soybeans were $10.51 1/2, $10.63 3/4, and $10.74 1/4 respectively, with slight decreases noted [4] Export Sales Data - The USDA reported soybean export sales for the week ending December 11 at 2.396 million metric tons (MMT), marking a marketing year high and a 68.3% increase compared to the same week last year [3] - China was a significant buyer, purchasing 1.38 MMT, contributing to total known sales to China of 6.2 MMT [3] - Soymeal sales surpassed trade estimates at 616,453 metric tons, while bean oil sales were recorded at 8,660 metric tons [3] Commitment of Traders - Managed money reduced their net long position by 32,560 contracts, bringing the total to 147,778 contracts for the week ending December 16 [2]