Chinese Buyers Book Another Large Round Of U.S. Soybeans

Chinese state-owned trading firms have just stepped back into the market, purchasing another 10 to 13 cargoes of U.S. soybeans for shipment between December and March. Combined with earlier orders this week, Chinese buying has reached an estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million metric tons.

For local Iowa farmers, this marks an encouraging shift after weeks of quiet demand following President Donald Trump’s September meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China is aiming for 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans during the 2026-27 marketing year, and Reuters estimates total purchases have now reached around 15 million metric tons.

While hitting that full White House target remains a critical benchmark for the region’s agricultural economy, this return of state buyers offers welcome momentum and eases immediate demand concerns across Iowa’s bean fields.