Chinese imports of soyabeans totalled 13.55M tonnes in June, the highest volume recorded for that month, according to customs data reported by animal production and feed industry news service eFeedLink.
The volume was a 10.5% increase from June 2025 and a rise of almost 15% from the previous month’s level, the 16 July report said.
China’s import surge was driven by Brazil’s record soyabean harvest, which had created a concentrated wave of shipments, combined with the easing of logistical bottlenecks that had delayed earlier port arrivals, eFeedLink wrote.
Chinese imports were forecast to remain above 10M tonnes/month through July and August, with analysts saying full-year imports could approach or exceed the 2025 record.
As Chinese soyabean demand was led by its pig and poultry sectors, which relied heavily on soyabean meal as a primary feed ingredient, the pace of recovery in domestic livestock consumption meant it would be a key variable influencing future import requirements, the report said.
Although Brazil dominated Chinese soyabean supply at the time of the report, the USA was expected to maintain a significant role.
China imported approximately 8.38M tonnes of US soyabeans 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 made a commitment to purchase 25M tonnes/year of US soyabeans up to 2028.
According to market sources, any disruption to Brazilian export capacity, shipping networks or crop yields could change purchasing patterns and increase demand for US supplies.
Uncertainty also remained over the pace of recovery in Chinese livestock consumption and the trajectory of bilateral trade relations, the report said.
