Column: US Soybean Exports in Jeopardy

source: Reuters

US soybean shipments have rebounded from last year’s trade war-fueled lull, but recent volumes and sales are well off normal levels and February exports were alarmingly low, raising concerns for the rest of the 2019-20 season.

According to a report atReuters, export inspection data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday suggests that around 3.2 million tonnes of soybeans left U.S. ports in February, which if realized would be a 14-year low for the month.

The data also implies last month’s bean exports to China were around 600,000 tonnes, and that would be the lowest February volume in 20 years and the lowest for any month since April 2019.