CBOT soybeans tumble on escalating trade tensions

CHICAGO, March 4 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures declined on Tuesday, with the most-active May contract Sv1 closing below $10 a bushel on fears U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies will disrupt U.S. agricultural exports, traders said.

• CBOT May soybeans SK25 settled down 12-1/2 cents at $9.99 per bushel after touching $9.91, the contract's lowest price since December 26.

• CBOT May soymeal SMK25 ended down $4.50 at $293.50 per short ton and May soyoil BOK25 fell 0.65 cents to finish at 42.84 cents per pound.

• Trump set 25% tariffs on most imports from Mexico and Canada and doubled duties on Chinese goods to 20%.

• Ottawa responded with 25% tariffs on more than $20 billion in U.S. imports while Beijing said it would impose additional tariffs on agricultural products starting next week. Mexico's government is expected to respond on Sunday.

• Improving South American crop prospects added to bearish sentiment. Rains over the last week in corn and soy areas of Argentina have led to "major improvements" in soil moisture, space technology firm Maxar said in a daily crop weather note.

• Traders shrugged off news of fresh U.S. soyoil sales. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed private sales of 20,000 metric tons of soyoil to unknown destinations.

• The CBOT reported 259 deliveries against the March soybean futures SH25 contract, with the Bunge house account stopping 164 lots. SOY/DEL

• CBOT March soymeal SMH25 deliveries totaled 1,012 lots, with the Bunge house account accepting 170 lots. CBOT March soyoil BOH25 deliveries totaled 215 contracts, with no strong commercial stoppers. MEAL/DEL SBO/DEL