China imported a record number of soybeans during the 2025 calendar year, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs on Wednesday. Monthly data showed that the country imported 8.044 million metric tons in December, marking a 1.3 percent year-over-year increase. Year-to-date shipments totaled 111.79 MMT, up 6.5 percent from 2024.

China has been increasing its imports from South America over the past few years to reduce its reliance on U.S. supplies. Shipments hit records from May through October as the country snapped up supplies from Brazil and Argentina.

No U.S. soybeans were included in the December shipments, according to Reuters. Weekly export data has shown that the U.S. has been shipping soybeans to China, but the first vessel just arrived at China’s ports this week, based on ocean shipping data.

Bloomberg reported that China is auctioning off another 1.13 MMT of soybeans from state reserves, presumably to make room for incoming U.S. imports. Feed producers and soybean crushers have purchased a combined 1.58 MMT of soybeans in three previous state auctions.
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