Grain Funds Fall Even as China Steps Up American Soybean Buying
Key Facts
- The soybean fund closed at US$27.68, down 1.04%, while the corn fund fell 0.66% to US$19.70 and the wheat fund 1.45% to US$25.86.
- Chicago settled November soybeans at 1,303.50 cents a bushel, equal to about US$13.04, with December corn at 526.00 cents, about US$5.26.
- December wheat settled at 714.25 cents a bushel, about US$7.14, the weakest line of the three on the day.
- The soybean fund still gained 0.65% over the week, while corn lost 1.10% and wheat 1.49%.
- The real weakened to 5.1445 per dollar, a move of 0.30% on the day and 0.46% over the week.
- Bunge fell 3.13% to US$115.58 and Adecoagro 3.13% to US$11.46, as the Latin American agricultural complex tracked the softer board.
Today’s Focus
The grain funds fell together on Friday, with wheat leading the decline. The soybean fund closed at US$27.68, down 1.04%.
The corn fund lost 0.66% to US$19.70 and the wheat fund 1.45% to US$25.86. In Chicago, November soybeans settled at 1,303.50 cents a bushel, about US$13.04.
The week tells a different story from the day. The soybean fund still gained 0.65% over the week, while corn lost 1.10% and wheat 1.49%.
Chinese state buyers have taken roughly a million tonnes of American soybeans this week, according to Reuters. That buying sits ahead of a planned presidential meeting later in September.
The real ended the week at 5.1445 per dollar, a move of 0.46%. The Mexican peso weakened 1.46% over the week to 17.221 per dollar.
The agricultural names followed the board lower. Bunge fell 3.13% to US$115.58 and Adecoagro 3.13% to US$11.46.
What matters today. The soybean fund still finished the week higher even after Friday’s fall. Corn and wheat ended lower on both the day and the week.
| Instrument | Level | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Ibovespa (Brazil) | 185,229.17 | -0.41% |
| S&P 500 (US) | 7,650.50 | +0.17% |
| Nasdaq Composite (US) | 26,523 | +0.39% |
| VIX (US volatility) | 14.81 | -4.08% |
| USD/BRL | 5.1445 | +0.30% |
| Gold (per ounce) | US$4,380.01 | +0.77% |
| Silver (per ounce) | US$66.35 | +1.41% |
| Oil fund (USO) | US$153.82 | -0.96% |
Friday, 18 September 2026 close. Gold, silver and the oil fund in US dollars.
01 The session in one read
All three grain funds fell on Friday and wheat took the largest loss. The soybean fund gave back part of its weekly gain.
Corn and wheat ended the week lower on both measures. The soybean fund still finished the week ahead.
Chicago settlements put November soybeans at 1,303.50 cents a bushel, about US$13.04. December corn settled at 526.00 cents, about US$5.26, and December wheat at 714.25 cents, about US$7.14.
Bunge fell 3.13% and Adecoagro fell 3.13%. ADM fell 3.30% to US$85.18.
02 The board
| Instrument | Level | Session | Week | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean fund (SOYB) | US$27.68 | -1.04% | +0.65% | Gave back part of a weekly gain |
| Corn fund (CORN) | US$19.70 | -0.66% | -1.10% | Lower on both measures |
| Wheat fund (WEAT) | US$25.86 | -1.45% | -1.49% | Largest fall in the complex |
| November soybeans (Chicago) | 1,303.50c | n/a | n/a | About US$13.04 a bushel |
| December corn (Chicago) | 526.00c | n/a | n/a | About US$5.26 a bushel |
| December wheat (Chicago) | 714.25c | n/a | n/a | About US$7.14 a bushel |
The fund prices are share prices rather than bushel prices. The Chicago lines are settlement levels from USDA AMS grain bid reports for Friday 18 September.
Those reports do not carry daily changes, so the table leaves them blank rather than guessing. A DTN-powered quote board and Farmbucks showed November soybeans down about 16 cents on Friday, from 1,319.75 cents to about 1,303.75.
03 What moved it
Chinese state buyers have taken roughly a million tonnes of American soybeans this week, according to Reuters. A DTN-powered quote board showed November soybeans down about 16 cents on Friday from a 1,319.75-cent prior close.
It advances a commitment made at the Busan summit. China agreed at the Busan summit to buy 25 million tonnes of American soybeans annually through 2028, according to Reuters.
A meeting between the American and Chinese presidents is planned for later in September. The buying has run ahead of that meeting.
The funds fell on Friday. Wheat fell 1.45%, the largest loss of the three, and corn fell 0.66%.
04 The Latin American read
Brazil and Argentina compete with American soybeans for Chinese demand. China’s roughly one million tonnes of American purchases this week, reported by Reuters, matter for South American exporters.
The real ended the week at 5.1445 per dollar, a move of 0.46%. A weaker real raises Brazilian growers’ revenue in reais.
Adecoagro, which grows crops in Argentina and Brazil, fell 3.13% to US$11.46 on Friday. It lost 2.63% over the week.
The Mexican peso weakened 1.46% over the week to 17.221 per dollar. The Colombian peso weakened 2.10% to 3,166.69 per dollar and the Chilean peso 1.75% to 958.97.
05 The names to watch
Bunge fell 3.13% to US$115.58 and lost 5.58% over the week. Adecoagro fell 3.13% to US$11.46.
ADM fell 3.30% to US$85.18. The two processors and the South American grower name moved together on the day.
The soybean fund remains above its fifty-day and two-hundred-day moving averages. That longer trend has survived a week in which the fund still finished higher.
The corn fund sits above its fifty-day and two-hundred-day averages as well. Both grain funds have held those levels through a softer Friday.
The Colombian and Chilean pesos were the two regional currencies with the largest weekly moves, at 2.10% and 1.75%. The real moved 0.46% and the Mexican peso 1.46%, behind the Colombian and Chilean pesos.
06 The outlook
The planned Trump-Xi meeting later in September is the next scheduled event, according to Reuters. The buying has run ahead of that meeting.
China’s Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 25 September. Trading in Chinese markets will pause for the holiday.
The CFTC publishes speculative positions on Friday 25 September. The prior readings were 261.2 thousand contracts for soybeans, 542.4 thousand for corn and 1.2 thousand for wheat.
Brazil’s IPCA-15 inflation reading for September is due on 25 September. The year-on-year consensus is 4.5%, against 4.24% prior.
Mexico’s central bank decides on rates on 24 September. The prior rate stands at 6.5%, and the calendar carries no consensus figure.
07 What to watch
- The planned Trump-Xi meeting later in September: The buying has run ahead of it, according to Reuters.
- China’s Mid-Autumn Festival on 25 September: Trading in Chinese markets will pause for the holiday.
- CFTC speculative positions on Friday 25 September: Prior readings were 261.2 thousand contracts for soybeans, 542.4 thousand for corn and 1.2 thousand for wheat.
- Brazil’s IPCA-15 reading on 25 September: The year-on-year consensus is 4.5%, against 4.24% prior.
- Mexico’s rate decision on 24 September: The prior rate stands at 6.5%, and the calendar carries no consensus figure.
- Bunge and Adecoagro: Both fell 3.13% on Friday.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did the grain funds close on 18 September 2026?
The soybean fund fell 1.04% to US$27.68, the corn fund 0.66% to US$19.70 and the wheat fund 1.45% to US$25.86.
What were the Chicago settlement prices?
November soybeans settled at 1,303.50 cents a bushel, about US$13.04, December corn at 526.00 cents, about US$5.26, and December wheat at 714.25 cents, about US$7.14.
Did the soybean fund gain over the week?
Yes. It rose 0.65% over the week, even after Friday’s 1.04% fall.
Why are Chinese buyers active in American soybeans?
State buyers have taken roughly a million tonnes this week, according to Reuters, ahead of a planned presidential meeting later in September.
How did the Latin American currencies move over the week?
The real weakened 0.46% to 5.1445 per dollar and the Mexican peso 1.46% to 17.221 per dollar. The Colombian peso weakened 2.10% to 3,166.69.
How did the Latin American agricultural names trade?
Bunge fell 3.13% to US$115.58 and Adecoagro 3.13% to US$11.46.
Sources: RT end-of-day series for SOYB, CORN, WEAT, BG, ADM, AGRO and the Latin American currencies; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service grain bid reports for Friday 18 September 2026 Chicago settlements; a DTN-powered quote board and Farmbucks for the November soybean change; Reuters on Chinese soybean purchases and the Busan commitment; RT economic calendar for the week to 25 September.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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