China imported 360,878 metric tons of American soybeans in September, rebounding from zero a year earlier as shipments from a trade agreement arrived at ports. Total soybean imports fell 7.7% to 11.88 million tons, while Brazilian shipments dropped 2.4% according to data released on Tuesday.
The return of American cargoes changes the flow of the world’s largest soybean buying market following last year’s trade truce between Beijing and Washington.
Trade tensions had previously prompted Chinese buyers to delay purchases of the preceding American harvest until after an October summit between the two countries’ leaders.
How September Import Numbers Contrast With Last Year
China brought in 360,878 metric tons of US soybeans in September. That arrival stands in sharp contrast to the zero imports recorded during the same month a year ago.
Trade friction stalled shipments as part of a dispute between Beijing and Washington.
China imported a total of 11.88 million metric tons of the crop in September, marking a 7.7% decline from September of the previous year. Shipments from Brazil, the dominant supplier, slipped 2.4% year-over-year to 10.7 million tons from 10.96 million tons.
Tracking January Through September Trade Totals
American soybean shipments totaled 11.06 million tons from January through September. That figure represents a 34% drop compared to the same stretch a year earlier.
Brazilian shipments grew 3.4% over the same period, reaching 65.84 million tons according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
Beijing went on to purchase roughly 12 million tons of US soybeans following the October leadership summit last year. Traders noted that this volume remains well below levels seen before the trade war began.
Meeting Marketing Year Buying Targets
China has secured more than 60% of its 25-million-ton US soybean buying target for the 2026/27 marketing year, with deliveries under that target beginning in September according to traders.