China’s soybean imports hit record high in October, boosted by South American shipments

China’s soybean imports have broken records for the sixth consecutive month, as Chinese importers increased their purchases of soybeans from South America while Beijing and Washington were locked in a trade war, Reuters reports.

According to the General Administration of Customs, soybean imports in October 2025 reached 9.48 million tonnes, up 17.2% from October 2024 and the highest level ever recorded for that month.

“Soybean imports in October reached a monthly record as processors rushed to purchase as much as possible, seeking to ensure stable production and avoid potential price spikes in Brazil caused by delays in Chinese shipments to the US,” noted Wang Wensheng, an analyst at Sublime China Information.

From May to October, China’s monthly soybean imports set new records. As a result, soybean imports in the first 10 months of this year increased by 6.4% year-on-year to 95.68 million tonnes.

However, compared to September, imports in October decreased by 26.3%, reflecting typical seasonal trends. “In September, Brazilian old-crop soybean shipments reached their final stages, providing a high baseline for comparison,” noted Liu Jinlu, researcher at Guoyuan Futures.

“October is typically the time for the US to harvest the new soybean crop, but due to the trade suspension between China and the US, new crop shipments have virtually ceased,” she added.

Beijing began modest purchases of American agricultural products following the meeting between Chinese and US leaders last week. However, traders were still expecting significant soybean purchases after Washington announced that Beijing had committed to purchasing 12 million tonnes by the end of the year.

Traders and analysts note that China’s decision to maintain a 13% tariff on soybeans has made US supplies too expensive for commercial buyers compared to Brazilian ones.

Chinese importers recently purchased 20 cargoes of cheaper Brazilian soybeans amid falling prices in South America in anticipation of a resumption of US sales, while COFCO purchased three cargoes of US soybeans ahead of a meeting between US and Chinese leaders.

Tags: China, Brazil, soybean, Argentina