July 16, 2026
 

China posts record June soybean imports of 13.55 million tonnes on Brazilian supply surge and port clearances

Chinese arrivals are forecast to remain above 10 million tonnes per month through July and August, with analysts saying full-year imports could approach or exceed the 2025 record.

China imported 13.55 million metric tonnes of soybeans in June 2026, the highest volume ever recorded for a single June, according to customs data released on 14 July - a 10.5% increase from June 2025 and a rise of nearly 15% from May levels.

The surge was driven by Brazil's record soybean harvest, which created a concentrated wave of shipments, combined with the resolution of logistical bottlenecks that had delayed earlier port arrivals. Analysts say Chinese arrivals are expected to continue exceeding 10 million tonnes per month in July and August, with full-year import volumes potentially approaching or exceeding the record set in 2025.

Soybean demand from China is underpinned by its hog and poultry sectors, which rely heavily on soybean meal as a primary feed ingredient. The pace of recovery in domestic livestock consumption is therefore identified as a key variable influencing future import requirements.

Despite Brazil's current dominance in Chinese soybean procurement, the United States is expected to maintain a significant role. China imported approximately 8.38 million tonnes of US soybeans in the first five months of 2026 after resuming purchases late in 2025. Following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in May, China reaffirmed a commitment to purchase 25 million tonnes of US soybeans annually through 2028.

Market participants said any disruption to Brazilian export capacity, shipping networks or crop yields could alter purchasing patterns and increase demand for US supplies. Uncertainty also remains over the pace of recovery in Chinese livestock consumption and the trajectory of bilateral trade relations.

- AgroLatam