China's soybean imports are expected to reach 108 million tons in the 2026/27 season, according to a report by the attaché of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Beijing. The volume represents an increase of 2 million tons compared to the projection for 2025/26, with a focus on serving Domestic demand for animal feed, especially for poultry and aquaculture.
In turn, the soybean crushing volume is projected at 103 million tons in 2025/26The document highlights the return of Chinese participation in oilseed purchases from the US and Canada, as part of a strategy to meet domestic demand. This is above the 101 million tons of the previous cycle, indicating greater domestic use of the oilseed. USDAUp to February 26th of this year, 10.8 million tons of US soybeans were purchased by the Asian giant, out of a total commitment of 12 million tons of US soybeans. In the case of Canada, China adjusted tariffs on Canadian canola, reducing the anti-dumping duty to 5.9% and eliminating the 100% tariff on canola meal. This measure tends to… to strengthen the competitiveness of canola and partially reduce the demand for substitutes, such as soybean meal.
Focus on self-sufficiency
Amidst the purchases of oilseeds, the Chinese government continues encouraging domestic production, with policies of subsidies, financial incentives and investments in research. For 2026/27, the expectation is that slight increase in domestic soybean productionDriven by better prices and expansion of planted area, the country continues to expand the use of genetically modified crops; however, the adoption of transgenic soybeans is still progressing more slowly, with a greater concentration on corn.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.