Lead

China’s appetite for Brazilian soybeans reached a record high in June, while imports from the United States fell sharply, according to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs. The figures come despite the purchasing agreement struck by Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, raising questions about the pace of US shipments.

Coverage Comparison

The South China Morning Post reported two seemingly contrasting developments. One report focused on the official customs data showing a surge in Brazilian arrivals and a decline in US volumes. Another highlighted a large single-day US soybean sale, described by the Post as a sign of improving trade ties.

The customs data, released on Monday, showed China imported 12.08 million tonnes of Brazilian soybeans in June, up 13.7 per cent from a year earlier. Imports from the United States fell 20.6 per cent to 1.27 million tonnes — far off the pace implied by the purchasing deal agreed by Trump and Xi. Total soybean arrivals reached 13.55 million tonnes, a record for the month, lifted by Brazilian supply and the clearing of cargoes that had been delayed at Chinese ports.

The Post noted that the half-year figures place the June result in a longer decline. Imports from the US fell 42.4 per cent between January and June, to 9.31 million tonnes, against a Chinese pledge to take at least 25 million tonnes a year through 2028. Brazilian volumes over the same period rose 9.1 per cent, to 34.75 million tonnes.

The report added that the commitment is annual, and June shipments reflect purchases made weeks or months earlier, leaving room for buying to be concentrated later in the year.

On a more positive note, a separate Post report said China made its largest daily purchase of soybeans from the United States since November. The US Department of Agriculture said private exporters reported sales of 472,000 tonnes of soybeans for delivery to China, the greatest daily export sale to the country since November. The purchase came after Trump and Xi’s high-stakes Beijing summit in May and a general commitment about US agricultural products that surfaced two days after the talks in a brief White House readout.

Key Claims

  • June imports: China imported 12.08 million tonnes of Brazilian soybeans in June, up 13.7 per cent from a year earlier, while US imports fell 20.6 per cent to 1.27 million tonnes.
  • Record total: Total soybean arrivals reached 13.55 million tonnes, a record for the month.
  • Half-year trend: Imports from the US fell 42.4 per cent between January and June, to 9.31 million tonnes, while Brazilian volumes rose 9.1 per cent, to 34.75 million tonnes.
  • Daily US sale: China made its largest daily purchase of US soybeans since November, with the US Department of Agriculture reporting sales of 472,000 tonnes for delivery to China.
  • Long-term commitment: According to the White House, China agreed to purchase at least US$17 billion per year of US agricultural products from 2026 through 2028, in addition to the soybean purchase commitments made in October 2025.
The Post quoted Mark Knight of Farmer’s Keeper Financial as saying: “China has a long way to go to reach their commitments, but this is a positive signal that they have intentions to do so.” Knight added that he expected China to show good faith in September when Xi visits Washington.

The contrasting data points illustrate the complex dynamics of the trade relationship: while short-term purchases can signal goodwill, the overall trend shows Brazil’s growing dominance in China’s soybean market. As the Post noted, the annual nature of the commitment and the timing of shipments mean that US volumes could still pick up later in the year.