China Buys Nearly 1 Million Tons of US Soybeans

Nov 19, 2025

By Ryan Hanrahan

Reuters’ Karl Plume reported that “China bought at least 14 cargoes of U.S. soybeans on Monday, two traders with knowledge of the deals said, its largest purchase since at least January and the most significant since a summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in October.”

“China is buying U.S. soybeans to meet the pledges it made to Washington at the trade summit in Busan, South Korea, even though the cargoes are priced higher than rival Brazilian offers, two Asia-based traders said,” Plume reported. “‘This bigger round of U.S. soybean buying is no longer a goodwill gesture but a manifestation of China’s commitment to the Busan terms,’ said a Singapore-based trader.”

“China’s state-owned grain trader COFCO bought at least 840,000 metric tons for shipment in December and January, the two traders with knowledge of the deals told Reuters,” Plume reported. “Eight of the vessels were for shipment in December and January from U.S. Gulf Coast terminals, while the rest were for shipment in January from Pacific Northwest ports, one trader said. A second trader estimated around 75% of the sales were for Gulf shipment, with the remainder from the Pacific Northwest ports.”

During the government shutdown, USDA daily sales data showed China made two soybean purchases totaling 232,000 metric tons, bringing China’s total recent soybean buys to nearly 1 million metric tons.

Source : illinois.edu

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