Chania’s Soybean Imports Hit Lowest Level in a Decade Due to Delays and Trade Tensions.

Chania’s soybean imports dropped sharply in April, reaching their lowest level in 10 years. According to customs data, the country imported only 6.08 million metric tons of soybeans in April, down 29.1% compared to the same last year. This marks the lowest import level since 2015.

The main reason for the soybean import decline was a mix of problems: delays in Brazil’s soybean harvest, transportation issues, and longer customs clearance times. Shipments from Brazil, China’s top supplier, fell 22.2% in April. Imports from the United States, the second-largest supplier, dropped even more, down 43.7% due to trade war.

These delays have caused significant disruptions in China’s soybean crushing industry. Normally, it takes about 7 to 10 days to transport soybeans from the port to crushing plants, but it now takes 20 to 25 days. As a result, some crushing plants in northern China have reduced production, causing tight supplies of soymeal used for animal feed.

Recent data shows that China has stopped buying new U.S. soybeans for the 2024/25 season, due to high tariffs.

Looking ahead, analysts expect soybean imports to increase in May and June.