Overview
- China recorded a record 13.55 million tonnes of soybean arrivals in June 2026, with 12.08 million tonnes coming from Brazil and 1.27 million tonnes from the United States according to customs data.
- Brazil’s cumulative shipments to China rose to about 34.75 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, a 9.1% increase from a year earlier, while U.S. volumes fell to 9.31 million tonnes, down 42.4% year‑on‑year.
- June’s surge reflected peak Brazilian exports from April and the clearing of cargoes delayed by inspection holds earlier in the year, a pattern consistent with a roughly two‑month lag from Brazilian shipment to Chinese arrival.
- U.S. soybeans arriving in China this year mostly fulfill a 12 million‑tonne near‑term pledge from last October, with roughly 9.3 million tonnes arrived so far and about 2.9 million tonnes still expected in the near term.
- Price dynamics matter: China paid about a $20 per tonne premium for U.S. soybeans in June, a trend that has raised spending on U.S. supplies to more than $4.5 billion in 2026 and could shape future trade and buying decisions.