Are U.S. soybeans being exported to China in record numbers?
U.S. soybean exports to China fell from 26.8 million metric tons in 2024 to 7.2 million in 2025, a 73% decline.
This Fact Brief was written by Sharon Li and originally published by our Gigafact partner, Econofact. View on Econofact.
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While U.S. soybean exports to China rose after a weak 2025, the rebound is far from record-breaking.
U.S. soybean exports to China fell from 26.8 million metric tons in 2024 to 7.2 million in 2025, a 73% decline (USDA).
China, formerly the top buyer, bought none in September 2025 in retaliation against U.S. tariffs, but resumed purchases in October after a trade truce.
But even if China had fulfilled its late-2025 soybean purchase commitments, U.S. soybean exports to China that year would still be 32% below 2024 levels (EconoFact).
U.S. soybean exports were 10.3 million metric tons from January through May 2026.
While this was a 74% increase over the 5.9 million metric tons during the same period in 2025, the 2.2 million metric tons exported in March 2026 was not a record high; for example, exports were 5.5 million metric tons in January 2023.
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Sources
- EconoFact The U.S. Agricultural Sector Under Stress
- Center for Strategic and International Studies China’s Latest Soybean Purchase Agreement Falls Short of Replacing Lost U.S. Exports
- United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service
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