CIF/FOB Gulf Grain-Soy barge bids jump, corn bids stay largely flat

CHICAGO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids increased for soybeans delivered by barge to U.S. Gulf Coast terminals on Tuesday and remained largely steady for corn, traders said.

• Traders were watching to see whether Washington can strike a deal with Beijing to resolve the trade conflict that has halted China's purchases of U.S. soybeans and shifted its demand to South America.

• There are no new sales of U.S. soybeans to top importer China and nothing is expected to be loaded in coming weeks, the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council said.

• It is unknown whether China will need to buy U.S. soy from December to February while it waits for Brazil's next harvest, a trader said.

• Farmers were putting newly harvested soy into storage bins, instead of selling them to grain handlers, because of low crop prices and China's absence from the U.S. market, traders said.

• CIF basis bids for October soybean barges were about 3 cents higher at 80 cents over Chicago Board of Trade November SX25 futures. November barges were bid at 82 cents over futures, which was also 3 cents higher.

• FOB export premiums for October-loaded soybeans were about 94 cents over futures, up 2 cents.

• For corn, CIF basis bids for October barges were about 82 cents over CBOT December CZ25 futures, which was steady. November barge loadings were bid at about 81 cents over futures, which was also unchanged.

• December barges traded at 81 cents over CBOT December futures late on Monday, a trader said.

• FOB export premiums for October corn shipments were steady at about 93 cents over futures.