U.S. soybean exports to China have fallen sharply, creating big trouble for farm incomes and trade stability.
China, once the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, has sharply cut or halted purchases following escalating tariffs and retaliation. The change threatens the livelihoods of U.S. farmers and raises urgent pressure on Washington to negotiate.
From January through July, U.S. exports to China fell by about 51 percent compared to the same period last year. Traders say China has made no new soybean purchase contracts since May, even as the U.S. harvest ramped up.
China now sources much of its soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. In 2024, China imported a record 105 million metric tons of soybeans, while U.S. deliveries to China totalled about 22 million tons, less than a quarter of its supply.
For U.S. farmers, soybeans are among the most profitable crops. The steep drop in exports has led to tumbling prices and heavy losses across the U.S. Midwest. Agricultural groups say the administration’s tariff policies are under severe fire in farm states.
President Donald Trump raised the issue himself at a Cabinet meeting, saying that soybeans must be part of any discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also posted on social media: “Make soybeans … great again!”
Reuters reported that without a meaningful trade deal, U.S. soybean exports could decline by 20 percent, further harming rural economies.
Some U.S. farmers and trade groups are now scrambling to find new markets in places like Nigeria, Vietnam and Bangladesh. But these markets are far smaller than China in scale.
Still, China maintains strategic leverage. Soybeans feed much of its vast pork and poultry industries. Domestic production can’t meet demand, so imports remain essential despite recent cutbacks.
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