Soybean Photo: VCG

China imported 111.8 million tons of soybeans in 2025, marking a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Thursday.

In December alone, China brought in 8.044 million tons of soybean, according to the GAC data.

The figures demonstrate China's continued dominant role in global soybean trade, said a Chinese expert. China imported an average of 61 percent of the world's available soybean supplies over the last five years and China has been the top buyer of US soybeans for years, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the American Soybean Association.

The imports come as China has actively diversified its supplier base, with Brazil maintaining its position as the dominant supplier. In April, 2025, China signed soybean purchase contracts with Brazil totaling at least 2.4 million tons - nearly one-third of China's average monthly soybean imports, the National Business Daily reported.

China has been a top destination for Brazilian soybean exports over the years, taking about 70-80 percent of the country's total exports, with huge potential remaining for future cooperation, Maurício Buffon, president of the Brazilian Soybeans Growers Association (Aprosoja Brasil), said in an interview with the Global Times.

Customs data showed that in 2024, China imported a total of 105 million tons of soybeans. Brazilian soybeans accounted for about 71 percent of the import, while US soybeans accounted for about 21 percent. Additionally, imports of Argentine soybeans reached 4.1 million tons, doubling from 2023.

Global Times