China accounted for 71% of Brazil’s soybean exports from January to July 2026, maintaining its position as the dominant destination, according to Brazil’s National Association of Grain Exporters (ANEC).
Spain was the second-largest destination at 4%, while Thailand, Turkey and Iran each accounted for around 3%.
China’s growing reliance on Brazilian soybeans comes amid weaker US shipments. In June, Chinese soybean imports from the US fell 20.6% year-on-year to 1.27 million tonnes, while imports from Brazil increased 13.7% to 12.08 million tonnes, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.
Despite the shift in sourcing, China’s overall soybean demand remains strong. Imports reached a record 13.55 million tonnes in June, while total soybean imports in 2025 stood at 111.83 million tonnes, up 6.5% year-on-year.
Brazil, the US and Argentina remain China’s major soybean suppliers, with China continuing to diversify its sourcing to strengthen supply-chain resilience.
The strong Chinese demand is strategically important for Brazil’s soybean industry. In 2025, China purchased 85.4 million tonnes, representing about 79% of Brazil’s total soybean exports.
As imported soybeans are primarily processed into soybean meal for animal feed and edible oil, China’s sourcing patterns have significant implications for global soybean trade and feed ingredient markets.
