Argentina lowers soybean forecast by 1 mln tons to 48 mln

As of late last week, 96.2% of soybean fields in Argentina had been planted. The largest area still to be sown is in the far northern regions, where planting has reached only 75–80% of the intended area. Excess soil moisture in these areas continues to delay planting. In the core production regions, 15% of early-planted soybeans are entering their critical reproductive stage, while farmers report infestations of red spider mites in drier zones and advise close monitoring of fields.

Weather last week was very dry, with only isolated showers in western La Pampa. Rainfall increased over the southwestern areas during the weekend, and additional precipitation is expected this week in western Córdoba, La Pampa, and southwestern Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, central and eastern regions continue to experience dryness, adding stress to crops.

According to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange, soybean conditions are rated at 13% poor, 34% fair, and 53% good/excellent. The share of good/excellent crops fell 8% compared to the previous week. Soil moisture for soybeans is rated 32% short and 67% favorable/optimal, down 6% from the prior week.

Due to limited rainfall and declining soil moisture, Argentina’s soybean forecast for the 2025/26 season has been lowered by 1 million tons to 48 million tons. This revision reflects both the weather impact and temporary planting delays in the northern regions.

Tags: soybean, Argentina, crop forecast