CBOT soybeans end lower as traders watch for US sales to China

CHICAGO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures retreated on Monday from a one-week top on a lack of fresh soy sales to top buyer China and lingering doubts over whether the Asian nation will buy 12 million metric tons of the oilseed by the end of 2025, as forecast by senior U.S. officials.

• CBOT January soybeans SF26 settled down 9-3/4 cents at $11.28 per bushel, turning lower after an early climb to $11.42-1/4, the contract's highest price since November 20.

• CBOT January soymeal SMF26 ended down $4.10 at $314.60 per short ton while January soyoil BOF26 rose 0.31 cent to settle at 52.36 cents per pound.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported no new U.S. soybean sales to China on Monday under its daily reporting rules, after confirming a string of sales since mid-November.

• The USDA reported export inspections of U.S. soybeans in the latest week at 920,194 metric tons, in line with a range of trade estimates for 800,000 to 1,250,000 tons. USDA/I

• The USDA reported export sales of U.S. soybeans in the week ended October 23 at 1,449,900 tons, in line with analyst estimates.

• Expectations for hefty South American soybean harvests added pressure. StoneX, a brokerage, trimmed its forecast of Brazil's soybean crop to 177.2 million metric tons, down from 178.9 million a month ago but still a record harvest, if realized.