China, traditionally the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, has resumed purchases as trade relations with the Trump administration gradually improve.
While soybean farmers in America are cautiously optimistic about the 2026 crop year, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that there is still a long way to go before China’s purchases reach pre-trade war levels.
The sale of soybeans is important as it is major agricultural product from the U.S. Midwest, covering about 10% of all American farmland.
Roughly 40% of U.S. soybeans are exported, and in recent years around half of exported beans have been sent to China.
However, China stopped nearly all of its U.S. soybean purchases in 2025 during tariff negotiations with the Trump administration.
China instead purchased soybeans from South American trade partners. However, China has now begin resuming its buying from American farmers.
Soybeans are currently trading at $12 U.S. an ounce, near a six-week high, supported by renewed Chinese demand for American supplies.
