CBOT soybean futures traded in a range-bound yet mildly bullish manner, closing at 1178.75 cents/bushel. In the near term, prices are expected to oscillate within the 11701200 cents/bushel range. Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices higher, indirectly boosting market sentiment for soybeans as a biofuel feedstock. On Thursday, private exporters reported sales of 122,000 tonnes of soybeans to China (for delivery in the 2026/27 marketing year). Since July 8, the USDA has confirmed cumulative soybean sales to China totaling 2.618 million tonnes, providing a solid floor of support for the market.