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USDA January soy crush estimated at 196.6 million bushels, experts state

The U.S. soybean crush likely fell in January to 5.897 million short loads, or 196.6 million bushels, as extreme winter season weather hampered operations at some centers, according to experts surveyed ahead of a month-to-month U.S. Department of Farming (USDA) report.

If the estimate, collected from 8 experts, is recognized, it would be down 3.8% from the record 204.3 million bushels crushed in December however up 2.8% from the January 2023 crush of 191.1 million bushels.

It would likewise be the largest January crush on record, directly topping the 196.5 million bushels processed in the Month of 2021, according to USDA data.

U.S. soybean processing has broadened considerably in current years, moved by rising need for vegetable oils to produce biofuel.

The regular monthly crush had surpassed 200 million bushels for three straight months before the drop in January, as a mid-month cold breeze disrupted truck and rail transport and slowed operations at a number of plants, analysts said.

Crush price quotes ranged from 194.2 million to 199.0 million bushels, with a mean of 196.8 million bushels.

The USDA is scheduled to release its regular monthly fats and oils report at 2 p.m. CST (2000 GMT) on Friday.

U.S. soyoil stocks as of Jan. 31 were approximated at 1.982 billion pounds based upon the average of estimates from 5 experts.

If understood, the stocks would be up 8.7% from 1.824 billion pounds at the end of December however down 15.9% from stocks amounting to 2.356 billion pounds at the end of January 2023.

Quotes ranged from 1.900 billion to 2.027 billion pounds, with a typical of 2.000 billion pounds.

The National Oilseed Processors Association reported that its members, which account for about 95% of the U.S. soy crush, processed 185.780 million bushels in January, while end-of-month oil stocks rose to 1.507 billion pounds.

(source: Reuters)