CME Group announced that its Soybean futures reached a new monthly open interest record of 1,118,872 contracts in September 2026, surpassing the previous benchmark of 1,063,108 contracts set in April 2026. The surge reflects intensifying market participation driven by trade negotiations, U.S. harvest concerns, and weather threats to South American yields.
- September 2026 Open Interest: 1,118,872 contracts
- Previous Record (April 2026): 1,063,108 contracts
- H1 2026 Average Daily Volume: 2 million contracts
- H1 2026 Open Interest: 10.7 million contracts
We’re seeing record participation in Soybean futures because the market is facing a unique combination of forces all at once: trade talks are fueling demand, buyers are hedging the incoming U.S. harvest amid rain delays, and Brazil’s planting season is starting just as Super El Niño threatens yields. These events draw participants and have pushed trading activity to new highs. We remain committed to providing the risk management tools clients need to navigate ongoing market volatility.
– John Ricci, Global Head of Agricultural Products, CME Group
The record comes as CME Group‘s agriculture business posted its strongest first half on record, with average daily volume reaching 2 million contracts. Open interest across the agricultural portfolio climbed to 10.7 million contracts during the same period, underscoring growing demand for commodity hedging instruments amid geopolitical and climate-related uncertainties.
The confluence of factors, including ongoing international trade negotiations, delayed U.S. soybean harvests due to weather, and production risks in Brazil amid El Niño conditions, has created sustained hedging demand. Market participants are using CME Group‘s soybean contracts to manage exposure across the global supply chain as volatility persists.
John Ricci, Global Head of Agricultural Products at CME Group. Source: LinkedIn
