China's US soy imports fall 12% in August

China imported 200,477 tons of soybeans from the United States in August, down 12% from 227,205 tons in the same month of 2025. Data released on September 20, 2026, by the General Administration of Customs showed the decline as most of the 12 million tons purchased late last year after a summit in Busan, South Korea, had already arrived in recent months.

Total Chinese soybean imports reached 12.14 million tons in August, falling 1.1% from 12.28 million tons a year earlier but rising 5.7% from July. Over the same month, shipments from Brazil increased 1% year-on-year to 10.61 million tons, compared with 10.48 million tons in August 2025.

From January to August, imports of US soybeans dropped 34% year-on-year to 10.66 million tons. Meanwhile, Brazilian shipments climbed 5% to 55.14 million tons.

China has also passed the halfway mark of its 25-million-ton purchase target for US soybeans for the year, with shipments starting in September. Trade tensions between Beijing and Washington last year led Chinese buyers to delay purchases of the previous US crop until after an October summit between both leaders, after which Beijing bought roughly 12 million tons of US soybeans.