Port investments by China in Latin America are reshaping the soybean market

Chinese investments in port infrastructure across Latin America are steadily reshaping global soybean trade flows and could weaken the long-term position of U.S. farmers in the Chinese market. From Brazil’s Port of Santos to Peru’s emerging deep-water port of Chancay, Beijing is channeling billions of dollars into logistics designed to secure stable supplies of soybeans and other strategic commodities amid renewed trade tensions with the United States.

Brazil’s Port of Santos, which handles nearly a quarter of the country’s soybean exports, has become a cornerstone of China’s strategy. State-owned COFCO International has invested about $285 million to expand dry-bulk capacity, strengthening its control over storage and export logistics. On the Pacific coast, COSCO Shipping is investing at least $3.5 billion in the Port of Chancay in Peru, a project expected to become one of the region’s largest ports and a key hub for redistributing soybeans, copper, and lithium across South America once fully operational.

Analysts say these investments reflect long-term policy rather than short-term trade disputes. Improved port infrastructure makes trade faster, cheaper, and more reliable, effectively locking in supply routes for decades. China now has stakes in at least 23 ports across Latin America, with transportation and logistics accounting for a large share of its regional projects. For major soybean exporters such as Brazil, lower logistics costs—often adding 20–25% to final prices—translate into stronger competitiveness on global markets.

The shift is increasingly visible in U.S. export data. While soybean shipments to China partially recovered following recent trade agreements, several U.S. ports have reported weak growth or outright declines in agricultural exports. By contrast, Brazil has posted record soybean exports to China, underscoring how infrastructure-backed trade routes are changing competitive dynamics.

U.S. farm groups warn that losing market share in China carries long-term risks. Replacing demand from a market of more than one billion consumers is extremely difficult, particularly once alternative supply chains are firmly established. As China continues to pour concrete into ports across Latin America, global soybean trade patterns may be altered for years to come.

Tags: China, Brazil, soybean