CBOT soybeans end lower in pause after three-month highs

CHICAGO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures ended lower on profit-taking a day after posting three-month highs and after monthly U.S. soy crush data underscored strong production of soymeal, traders said.

• CBOT March soybeans SH25 settled down 4-3/4 cents, or 0.45%, at $10.42-3/4 per bushel, backing down from Tuesday's three-month peak of $10.64.

• CBOT March soymeal SMH25 ended down $3.80, or 1.2%, at $302 per short ton while March soyoil BOH25 rose 0.05 cent, or 0.1%, at 46.27 cents per pound.

• CBOT soyoil drew support from a nearly 4% climb in U.S. crude oil CLc1 futures tied to a weekly drawdown in crude stockpiles. Soyoil sometimes tracks energy markets due to its role as a feedstock for biodiesel. O/R

• The National Oilseed Processors Association reported that its members crushed a record-high 206.6 million bushels of soybeans in December, above an average of trade expectations and up 5.8% from the year-ago crush.

• In Argentina, some forecasts called for weekend rains that should benefit soy crop areas that have struggled with hot and dry weather, but dry conditions could rebuild later this month, the Commodity Weather Group said in a client note.

• However, traders anticipate a record-large soybean harvest in Brazil that could limit the impact of production issues in Argentina.

• Ahead of Thursday's weekly USDA export sales report, traders expected the government to report U.S. soybean export sales in the week ended Jan. 9 at 300,000 to 800,000 metric tons.

• Ukraine will reduce areas sown to soybeans and rapeseed this year but will increase corn areas, Ukrainian farm business association UCAB said.

(Reporting by Julie Ingwersen; Editing by Richard Chang)

((Julie.ingwersen@thomsonreuters.com; 1-313-484-5283; Reuters Messaging: julie.ingwersen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))