China February and March soy imports seen at 3.3 million tonnes

China's Commerce Ministry expects the country's soy imports in February to total 3.3 million tonnes with about the same amount seen for March.

The figures represent a drop of roughly 19.5% from January's actual arrivals of 4.1 million tonnes. Buyers in China, the world's largest importer, reduced imports for February when many plants were shut for the Chinese New Year holidays.

The figures will take China's total imports in the first three months of the year to about 10.6 million tonnes, below the forecast of an official think-tank, the China National Grain and Oils Information Centre (CNGOIC) at 12 million tonnes for the period.

The ministry's forecast, based on reports from buyers, fails to catch all shipments, but provides a reference for buyers to gauge supply.