CBOT soybean futures closed lower on Thursday, with the main May contract settling at 1162.75 cents per bushel, down 4.50 cents. The market adjusted positions ahead of the three-day Easter holiday weekend. According to the USDA's weekly export sales report, for the week ending March 26, U.S. soybean export sales registered a net increase of 353,500 tonnes, at the lower end of the market's estimated range of 300,000700,000 tonnes, down 49% from the previous week. Among these, net sales to China stood at 141,000 tonnes, reflecting relatively weak performance. Additionally, weather conditions in South American production regions continue to improve. Argentina's soybean production estimate remains at 48.5 million tonnes, while Brazil's production estimate has been further raised to 179.7 million tonnes, with bumper harvest pressure still present. It is expected that CBOT soybeans will continue to trade in a range-bound pattern in the near term.