China is actively increasing purchases of soybeans from South America

Published May 12, 2025

Tridge summary

China has seen a surge in its soybean imports, particularly from Brazil, reaching a record 21.9 million tons in March-April. This increase is attributed to the high export rate, which is likely to persist in the coming months. Despite this, imports from Argentina are down, but an increase is anticipated soon. In contrast, imports from the United States have decreased, with only 0.55 million tons shipped in April. Following the renewal of permits for five companies to import Brazilian soybeans, China has lifted its ban on these companies, which was previously imposed due to concerns over chemical contamination, pests, or insects.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

In recent months, China has significantly increased its soybean imports, mainly from South America, Oil World reports. During March-April, soybean shipments from Brazil to China increased by 3.1 million tons compared to the same period last year to a record 21.9 million tons. It is expected that the import rate will also remain high in May-June. Only 70 thousand tons of soybeans were shipped from Argentina in April (165 thousand tons last year), but a seasonal increase in supplies is expected in the near future. Soybean imports from the United States during January-April decreased compared to the same period last year from 9.4 to 5.8 million tons, with only 0.55 million tons shipped in April, and if the trade war between the countries continues, the supply volume may decrease even ...

Source: Graintrade