China’s decision to reduce soybean meal usage in pig feed is creating fresh concerns for global soybean markets, particularly for Brazil, its largest soybean supplier. China imported more than 70 million tonnes of soybeans in 2025, with Brazil accounting for a major share of supplies.
According to China’s Agriculture Ministry, soybean imports are expected to decline by 6.1% in 2026, with reductions potentially reaching 30% by 2030 as the country adopts alternative feed technologies and improves feed efficiency.
China is increasingly investing in fermentation-based feed products and alternative protein ingredients such as insect-based feed to partially replace soybean meal in pig diets. The strategy is aimed at enhancing food security, reducing dependence on imports, and improving pork production sustainability.
The development could significantly impact Brazil’s soybean export industry, which relies heavily on Chinese demand. Industry observers believe Brazil may need to diversify soybean utilization, including expanding domestic biodiesel production and value-added processing, to reduce dependence on export markets.
Analysts also note that changing feed formulations in China could gradually reshape global soybean trade flows and influence long-term demand patterns for soybean meal worldwide.
