New crop soybean sales are falling behind, approaching 20-year lows. China has not booked a single shipment, and analysts say demand could drop even more.
The peak marketing season in the United States will come later this year, but China already has a lot of soybeans on hand. Imports there were steady back in May on a push for more oilseed processing. They have so much on hand, Reuters reports that some crush plants are shutting down because of storage issues.
While China has not bought any new crop beans just yet, there is still time. In 2005, the first Chinese purchase came during the week ending August 11th.
Related Stories
EU simplification may reduce some paperwork, but U.S. exporters still face costly traceability requirements.
U.S. grain export inspections stayed solid for the week ending May 7, with corn still leading the export pace and soybeans posting a strong weekly rebound.
USDA’s first 2026/27 outlook shows tighter supplies across several markets, led by wheat, corn, cotton, rice, beef, and sugar.
President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are expected to discuss commodities, trade and regional stability during meetings in Asia.
USDA says planting progress remains strong nationwide, though some soybean fields are still slow to emerge.
