FOB Gulf Grain - Soybean premiums flat-weaker amid muted demand

March 19 (Reuters) - U.S. soybean export premiums at the
Gulf Coast were flat to weaker on Monday, weighed down by
sluggish demand as prices for nearby supplies in competing
exporter South America fell after Brazilian cash premiums
plunged, traders said.
* Muted demand from Chinese importers for U.S. soybeans to
start the week.
* Spot Brazilian soybean FOB basis offers at Paranagua fell
10 cents per bushel on Monday. Deferred values down 5 to 8
cents.
* Traders monitoring labor strife in Argentina after grain
truckers called an indefinite strike to demand higher pay.
No market impact noted yet, as the main thrust
of Argentina's harvest is still two or three weeks away.
* Corn export premiums at the U.S. Gulf Coast held steady on
Monday, with traders anticipating an increase in demand from
regular importers following a 1.4 percent drop in benchmark U.S.
corn futures prices on Monday.
* Some precautionary buying seen likely ahead of next week's
USDA prospective plantings report on expectations the
government's U.S. corn acreage outlook could fall below recent
lofty forecasts.
* No news of fresh Chinese demand for U.S. corn, although
many private analysts expect purchases to rise this year due to
high domestic prices in China.
* Wheat export premiums were steady to firm on Monday amid
sharply lower futures prices and expectations for additional
demand, traders said.
* Benchmark U.S. wheat futures fell nearly 3 percent
on Monday amid improved crop weather in U.S. winter wheat areas.
* Further U.S. wheat sales to Iran were possible as the
country scrambles to import grains following a drought and
sanctions stemming from its nuclear ambitions.
* Pakistan in discussions to ship one million tonnes wheat
to Iran via a barter deal.

To check displays of FOB basis, click on following:
U.S. FOB Gulf corn
U.S. FOB Gulf soybeans
U.S. FOB Gulf SRW wheat
U.S. FOB Gulf HRW wheat

LINKS
* FOB U.S. Gulf Grain
* U.S. grain export summary
* Brazil soybean export prices
* Brazil corn export prices
* Argentine grain prices
* Russian grain prices

(Reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Meredith
Mazzilli)