Soybean futures climbed to around $12.5 per bushel, their highest level since May 2024, as strong Chinese demand for U.S. supplies lifted the market. The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) reported a private sale of 333,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans to China for 2026/27 delivery. Total U.S. soybean sales for that marketing year reached 1.723 million tonnes in the latest reporting week, including 1.131 million tonnes to China, or nearly two-thirds of the total. China’s Sinograin sold 222,782 tons of 290,000 tons of imported soybeans in an auction, signaling continued demand. Traders are also monitoring a potential late-September meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi for its possible impact on agricultural trade. Support was reinforced by crop concerns after the USDA said the share of soybeans rated good to excellent fell to 60% from 61% a week earlier.