In 2025, China’s soybean imports reached a record high of 111.83 million metric tons, the most the country has ever brought in during a single year. According to customs data and agricultural trade sources, this figure represents a 6.5% increase from 2024 and underscores China’s continued demand for soybeans — a key input for animal feed and edible oils.
A significant portion of the increase was driven by strong purchases from South American suppliers, especially Brazil and Argentina, as Chinese buyers moved early in the year to lock in supplies amid ongoing uncertainty in global markets.
The surge in imports was also shaped by trade tensions with the United States, which led Chinese buyers to shift more of their soybean sourcing to South America for much of 2025. U.S. shipments temporarily stalled due to tariffs and market dynamics before gradually resuming later in the year after trade negotiations eased.
In December alone, China imported 8.04 million tons of soybeans, up slightly from the same month a year earlier, though this was slightly below November’s total, reflecting seasonal variation and customs clearance delays. Looking ahead to early 2026, trade analysts forecast that soybean arrivals will remain strong in January and February, supported by continued demand from feed manufacturers and processors. However, some slowing from the record pace of 2025 is expected as inventories adjust and seasonal factors take effect.
