China has fulfilled its pledge to purchase 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of February 2026, meeting a target set as part of a trade truce with the United States that was agreed in late October 2025. The purchases were carried out mainly by Chinese state-owned buyers such as Sino grain and COFCO, which booked enough shipments for delivery between December 2025 and May 2026. This marked a resumption of U.S. soybean imports after China had halted purchases for about four months during heightened trade tensions.
The suspension had cut America’s soybean market share in China from around 21 % in 2024 to about 15 %. As part of the broader agreement, China also committed to buying at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually beginning in 2026, though actual long-term purchases will depend on price competition with South American supplies.
The record resumption of purchases came amid very strong overall soybean import levels, with China’s soybean imports in 2025 rising to a historic total as buyers also sourced large volumes from Brazil and Argentina. Some private buyers still prefer cheaper South American beans, meaning future U.S. demand will be shaped by relative pricing and logistics costs.
