China Buys 10 U.S. Soybean Cargoes as It Races Toward 12 Million-Ton Target

The purchases capped a strong week of buying activity by the world’s largest soybean importer, signaling renewed demand despite increasingly competitive supplies from Brazil.

According to three traders familiar with the transaction, at least eight cargoes are expected to depart from U.S. Gulf Coast export terminals, while the remainder will ship through the Pacific Northwest route.

Closing in on 12 Million Tons by End-February

Friday’s buying spree puts Beijing even closer to fulfilling its commitment to purchase 12 million tons of soybeans from the latest U.S. harvest by the end of February. Sinograin was also reported to have purchased about 10 cargoes earlier that same week on Monday.

As reported by Reuters, while large-volume trades were completed early in the week, Chinese importers were still seen making smaller daily purchases in the following days. All shipments are set for March delivery or later—coinciding with peak exports from Brazil, China’s main competitor supplier.

China had largely avoided U.S. soybeans for several months amid rising tensions with Washington, linked to trade tariff policies associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, buying began to resume in late October.

Total Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans are now estimated to be approaching 10 million tons or more, according to traders and analysts.

Buying Despite Cheaper Brazilian Supply

The renewed demand is notable because Brazilian soybeans often come at a lower cost. Brazil is also entering what is expected to be its largest soybean harvest on record, while China is reportedly experiencing domestic oversupply.

To make room for incoming U.S. shipments, China’s National Grain Trade Center said Sinograin will auction 1.1 million tons of imported soybeans on Jan 13. The auction will be the first of 2026 and the fourth since last month.

China’s aggressive soybean moves continue to draw attention as soybean trade flows frequently influence global vegetable oil prices—including competition dynamics between soybean oil and palm oil in the international market.