China soymeal futures plunge amid macro selloff, trade warnings

Soymeal futures in China slumped on Friday as traders dumped positions amid a wider sell-off in the global market, with...

Soymeal futures in China slumped on Friday as traders dumped positions amid a wider sell-off in the global market, with Chinese futures exchanges adding to the move as they issued statements warning of market volatility, sources said.

Soymeal futures contracts on the Dalian Exchange fell 3-5% along the curve on Friday to their lowest level in more than three weeks, with March futures down 4.11% to CNY3,427/mt ($531/mt).

“It was largely following the overseas market overnight,” said a futures trader at a major trading house.

Several other trade sources echoed that assessment.

CBOT soybean futures dropped 15-20 c/bu on Thursday and continued to slide on Friday, down 18-25 c/bu in the early session.

Global equity and commodity prices have nosedived at the end of the week against the backdrop of rising yields in US treasuries, attracting funds to flock to the safer asset and abandon positions perceived to be riskier.

The moves meant four futures exchanges in China issuing statements that warned of increased market volatility, shaking confidence further and adding to the selloff.

“Market prices have fluctuated greatly in recent days. All member units are requested to strengthen investor education and risk prevention, and remind customers to participate in futures transitions rationally and compliantly,” Dalian Commodity Exchange said.

This was interpreted by traders as a signal to calm the market forcing traders to exit long positions.

“Prices rose too quickly. Everyone wants to slow down,” one trader said.

What to read next
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify the conversion factor for Singapore Exchange (SGX) iron ore derivative forward curves data used to assess its low-grade and high-grade iron ore indices.
The rationales for MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, $/tonne on those days had omitted a deal at $318 per tonne FOB Gladstone for 30,000 tonnes, which had been carried over from the previous index. This has been corrected. The published prices are unaffected by this change. This price is part of the Fastmarkets base metals package. For […]
Spot prices for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) black mass and battery scrap rose during the week to Thursday November 13, driven by a sharp increase in Chinese lithium carbonate prices, sources told Fastmarkets.
Fastmarkets has discontinued its weekly price assessment for MB-FEN-0001 nickel pig iron, high-grade NPI content 10-15%, contract, ddp China, on Friday November 21. After a consultation period that ended on November 18, Fastmarkets has discontinued its weekly price assessment for MB-FEN-0001 nickel pig iron, high-grade NPI content 10-15%, contract, ddp China, due to the insufficient price inputs under […]
Due to a public holiday in Finland on Friday December 26, the PIX Pulp China indices will be published on Tuesday December 30 at 11:00 CET and then as normal on Friday January 2 at 9:00 CET.
Explore the challenges of the Latin steel industry amid rising Chinese exports and the need for regionalization.