Skip to content

Monday, Jul 27, 2026

Are U.S. soybeans being exported to China in record numbers?

Sharon Li, Econofact
no

While U.S. soybean exports to China rose after a weak 2025, the rebound is far from record-breaking. 

U.S. soybean exports to China fell from 26.8 million metric tons in 2024 to 7.2 million in 2025, a 73% decline (USDA). China, formerly the top buyer, bought none in September 2025 in retaliation against U.S. tariffs, but resumed purchases in October after a trade truce. But even if China had fulfilled its late-2025 soybean purchase commitments, U.S. soybean exports to China that year would still be 32% below 2024 levels (EconoFact). 

U.S. soybean exports were 10.3 million metric tons from January through May 2026. While this was a 74% increase over the 5.9 million metric tons during the same period in 2025, the 2.2 million metric tons exported in March 2026 was not a record high; for example, exports were 5.5 million metric tons in January 2023, during Biden’s term.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.

See all fact briefs

EconoFact is a non-partisan publication designed to bring key facts and incisive analysis to the national debate on economic and social policies. Launched in January 2017, it is written by leading academic economists from across the country who belong to the EconoFact Network. It is published by the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Learn More

Latest Fact Briefs

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.