A binding needle for a needle yoke of a bale press. The binding needle includes a mounting element which mounts to a rocker support of the needle yoke, a guide element which at least indirectly guides a strand-shaped binder, and a needle body which is made of a metal. The needle body is at least partially formed by a pipe profile which defines a profile interior. The needle body is arranged to extend from the mounting element to the guide element and to run at least in sections in a manner of an arc along a plane of curvature so as to define an inside of the arc and an outside of the arc.