Skip to main content

Posts

Brazil beef hit China import quota in August; diverts beef to U.S. & Russia

Brazil's beef hit its 1.1-million-metric-ton Chinese import quota in August, two months after Australia hit its 205,000-metric-ton quota. Brazil shifted some of its exports to other countries--including the United States and Russia--after hitting the Chinese quota. China customs data. Includes HS codes covered by Chinese quotas. China customs data. Includes HS codes covered by Chinese quotas. China's beef imports increased year-over-year despite the quotas set this year for 6 countries. Cumulative beef imports for January-August 2026 totaled 1.95 million metric tons, up 148,000 metric tons from the same period last year. Combined imports from the 6 countries with quotas totaled 1.86 mmt, up 175,000 metric tons from last year.  The other 4 countries with Chinese beef quotas--Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, and the United States--together have 714,000 metric tons of unfilled quotas. Uruguay agreed to transfer its unused quota to Brazil , but Chinese authorities have not agreed t...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

China's Imports of Brazilian Soybeans Rebound in August; Imports of U.S. Beans Drop Off

China imported 12.14 million metric tons of soybeans in August, according to Chinese customs data, of which 10.6 mmt (87%) came from Brazil. The number 2 and 3 sources were also in South America: China imported 887,300 metric tons from Argentina and 292,000 metric tons from Uruguay. Imports from the United States slowed to just 200,500 metric tons in August. Russia supplied 124,200 metric tons, and smaller amounts came from Canada, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Benin.  Cumulative imports of soybeans total 73.8 mmt of soybeans for the first 8 months of 2026, up slightly from 73.3 mmt during the same period in 2025. Imports from the U.S. are down 6.2 mmt year-over-year, while imports from Brazil are up 2.4 mmt, imports from Argentina are up 3.4 mmt, imports from Canada are up 670,000 metric tons, and imports from Russia are up 520,000 metric tons.  The cumulative arrivals of 10.6 mmt from the U.S. for January-August are slightly less than the 11.1 mmt exported from the U.S. January-July...
Post a Comment
Read more

U.S.-China Agricultural Trade Ahead of the Sept 24 Summit

U.S. and Chinese officials are discussing agricultural trade issues ahead of Xi Jinping's expected September 24 visit to Washington. China has committed to purchase 25 million metric tons of soybeans from the U.S. annually and $17 billion of other agricultural products, according to White House announcements following the May 2026  and October 2025 meetings between Xi and Trump. It has been reported that the two sides are discussing tariff cuts for agricultural products. Previously, the idea of a bilateral board of trade to manage imports and exports has been floated. Taking stock of the status of U.S. agricultural exports to China so far in 2026 indicates China has progressed well on its soybean purchase commitment, but exports of non-soybean farm goods are a long way from the $17 billion target--even if prorated this year.  China apparently met its commitment to purchase at least 12 mmt of U.S. soybeans by early July. The target was originally supposed to be met in December...
Post a Comment
Read more

How China Uses Food Power: Ecuador & Shrimp

You probably missed China's latest exercise of food power involving shrimp from Ecuador. President Daniel Noboa went to China in August and was rewarded with restoration of 8 Ecuadorian shrimp exporters that China had suspended earlier. The events leading up to Noboa's visit outline an emerging pattern: China creates a large export market for a trading partner, sets novel approval procedures or standards to manage the flow of imports, and China rejects products or suspends exporters when Chinese leaders want to gain power over their trading partner.  China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted Ecuador President Neboa's visit to China  August 2026. Over the past decade shrimp quietly became Ecuador's top export after petroleum, and China accounted for about half of the South American country's shrimp exports in 2025. China's annual imports of shrimp from Ecuador exceeded $3 billion during 2022-25, up spectacularly from about $100,000 in 2017.  China custo...
Post a Comment
Read more

China's Food Prices in the Doldrums as Nonfood Prices Rebound

The food component of China's August 2026 CPI was down 1.4% year-over-year while the nonfood component was up 1.2%. The overall CPI was up 0.8% y-o-y and up 0.4% from the previous month. China's consumer prices were down year over year for most sub-categories of food, led by pork which was down 11.8%. Grains, edible oils, vegetables, and fish prices were all down from a year ago. Beef and mutton prices were up 5.3% and 6.3%, respectively, from a year ago. Egg prices were depressed last year, but they have rebounded sharply this year. August egg prices were up 15% from a year ago. China's Producer Price Index, likewise showed a 3.8% increase overall, but the PPI for agricultural processing was down 1.7%, the PPI for food manufacturing was down 1.2%, and the PPI for alcohol and beverages was down 5.3% year-over-year in August.  A commentary by a National Bureau of Statistics statistician noted that fluctuations in international prices and a seasonal change in food prices ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

China's Animal Feed Production Up 6.2% y-o-y January-July 2026

China's July 2026 animal feed production totaled 29.89 million metric tons (mmt), up 2.6% from a year ago, according to a monthly report from the China Feed Industry Association . Feed output has been up year-over-year in 6 of 7 months this year. Cumulative feed production for January-July 2026 is 198.37 mmt, an increase of 11.56 mmt or 6.2% from the same period in 2025. Compiled from monthly China Feed Industry Association reports. Nearly all of the July feed output was composed of formulated feed (28.17 mmt), which increased 3% year-over-year. July production of feed concentrate (990,000 metric tons) was down 4.3% and production of additives and premix (560,000 metric tons) was down 9.7% year-over-year. The percentage of corn used in production of animal feed was just 30.5% in July. The proportion of corn use tends to fall seasonally during summer months before the new corn crop is harvested and when wheat is plentiful following the May-June harvest. July's 30.5% corn share w...
Post a Comment
Read more

China's August soybean imports still on same pace as last year

China imported 12.14 million metric tons of soybeans in August 2026 as monthly soybean imports continued at almost exactly the same pace as last year. The August volume is slightly behind the year-earlier total of 12.28 mmt.  China customs data. Cumulative soybean imports for January-August 2026 totaled 73.77 million metric tons, slightly ahead of the 73.33 mmt imported during the same period last year.  Brazil's soybean exports began their seasonal drop with 7 mmt exported to China in August, according to preliminary data from Brazil's Comex. That was down from 7.93 mmt exported to China in August 2025. China was the destination for 72% of Brazilian soybeans exported in August. Cumulative Brazilian exports to China for January-August total 64.7 mmt versus 65.85 mmt during the same months in 2025.  Preliminary data from Brazil's Comex. Brazil's exports of soybeans to other destinations are ahead of last year's. Brazil exported 2.8 mmt to non-China destinations in Au...
Post a Comment
Read more