China buys no U.S. soybeans

Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
Oct 20, 2025
Oct 20, 2025

Combine in field — With harvest already underway, U.S. producers are concerned about their ability to market their crops – especially given the limited grain-storage capacity in their bins and the projection of a record corn harvest. The harvest is estimated to surpass 16 billion bushels for the first time.
Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture

The U.S. soybean harvest began in September without any orders from the world’s largest buyer – China. American producers are harvesting a crop the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates at 4.3 billion bushels, and there’s no indication of when shipments to China will resume. In a typical year, China buys more than half of all U.S. soybean exports.

kAm|62?H9:=6[ qC2K:= D6E 2 C64@C5 7@C D9:A>6?ED E@ r9:?2 7C@> y2?F2CJ E9C@F89 pF8FDE a_ad] x? E9:D 2CE:4=6 H6 AC6D6?E &]$] 2?5 qC2K:=:2? D@J362?\EC256 7=@HD E@ r9:?2 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ 2?2=JK6 E96 EC256 C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? E96 4@F?EC:6D 52E:?8 324< E@ 367@C6 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 E96 a_`g EC256 H2C 2?5 4@?D:56C E96 A@DD:3=6 4@?D6BF6?46D :7 2 EC256 562= :D ?@E C624965 E9:D 72==]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m&]$] D@J362? D9:A>6?ED 7C@K6?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr9:?2 :D E96 }@] ` 3FJ6C @7 &]$] D@J362?D 3J 2 =2C86 >2C8:?] %96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? a_ac D9:AA65 2=>@DE hgd >:==:@? 3FD96=D E@ r9:?2[ 244@F?E:?8 7@C d` A6C46?E @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D E@E2= D@J362? 6IA@CED E92E J62C] qFE &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED E@ r9:?2 7C@> y2?F2CJ E9C@F89 pF8FDE a_ad E@E2=65 @?=J a`g >:==:@? 3FD96=D – ah A6C46?E @7 E@E2= 6IA@CED 7@C E96 A6C:@5] x? yF?6[ yF=J 2?5 pF8FDE[ D9:A>6?ED E@ r9:?2 H6C6 67764E:G6=J K6C@]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 2 a_ A6C46?E C6E2=:2E@CJ E2C:77[ 2?5 r9:?2’D '2=F6\p5565 %2I 2?5 |@DE u2G@C65 }2E:@? 5FE:6D 92D AFD965 E96 @G6C2== 5FEJ C2E6 @? &]$] D@J362?D E@ bc A6C46?E :? a_ad] p=E9@F89 E96 ?6H C6E2=:2E@CJ C2E6 :D d A6C46?E =6DD E92? 5FC:?8 E96 a_`g EC256 H2C[ E96 25565 5FE:6D D9@F=5 <66A &]$] D@J362? AC:46D >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E92? $@FE9 p>6C:42? DFAA=:6D 29625 @7 E96 &]$] 92CG6DE E9:D 72==[ DE2E65 E96 p>6C:42? $@J362? pDD@4:2E:@? :? 2 =6EE6C D6?E E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 :? pF8FDE]k^Am

kAm(:E9 92CG6DE 2=C625J F?56CH2J[ &]$] AC@5F46CD 2C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ >2C<6E E96 4C@A – 6DA64:2==J 8:G6? E96 =:>:E65 8C2:?\DE@C286 42A24:EJ :? E96:C 3:?D 2?5 E96 AC@;64E:@? @7 2 C64@C5 4@C? 92CG6DE] %96 92CG6DE :D 6DE:>2E65 E@ DFCA2DD `e 3:==:@? 3FD96=D 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6] x? A2CED @7 E96 |:5H6DE[ 8C2:? AC@5F4E:@? >2J @FEA246 2G2:=23=6 DE@C286 DA246] %92E D:EF2E:@? 4@F=5 AC6DDFC6 92CG6DE 32D:D =6G6=D 2?5 4C62E6 2 8C62E6C 56>2?5 7@C E6>A@C2CJ DE@C286]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr9:?6D6 3FJ qC2K:=:2? D@J362?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm&]$] 72C>6CD 2C6 2H2:E:?8 2 A@E6?E:2= EC256 562= E@ 2446DD E96 r9:?6D6 >2C<6E 282:?] qFE qC2K:= 6IA@CE65 2 C64@C5 a]cfc 3:==:@? 3FD96=D @7 D@J362?D E@ r9:?2 7C@> y2?F2CJ E9C@F89 pF8FDE E9:D J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 u@C6:8? %C256 $64C6E2C:2E[ $646I^qC2K:=] %92E G@=F>6 C6AC6D6?E65 fe A6C46?E @7 qC2K:=’D E@E2= D@J362? 6IA@CED 5FC:?8 E96 A6C:@5] x? pF8FDE 2=@?6[ r9:?2 AFC492D65 ah_ >:==:@? 3FD96=D 7C@> qC2K:=[ D6EE:?8 2 >@?E9=J C64@C5 H:E9 2? gd\A6C46?E D92C6 @7 qC2K:=’D D@J362? 6IA@CED]k^Am

kAmr9:?2’D 4FCC6?E D92C6 @7 qC2K:=’D D@J362? 6IA@CED :D 9:DE@C:42==J =2C86 – 4@>A2C23=6 @?=J E@ a_`g H96? !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A =2F?4965 E96 7:CDE EC256 H2C H:E9 r9:?2] %96 5:776C6?46 :D E92E D:?46 E96?[ qC2K:=’D D@J362? AC@5F4E:@? 92D DFC865 3J c_ A6C46?E – >62?:?8 4FCC6?E G@=F>6D :?G@=G65 2C6 72C =2C86C] uC@> E96 a_`f\a_`g E@ E96 a_ac\a_ad 4C@A D62D@?D[ qC2K:= :?4C62D65 :ED D@J362? AC@5F4E:@? 7C@> c]d 3:==:@? 3FD96=D E@ e]b 3:==:@? 3FD96=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= $FAA=J r@>A2?J[ r@?23 – qC2K:=’D 7@@5\DFAA=J 2?5 DE2E:DE:4D 286?4J]k^Am

kAmr9:?2’D D@J362? :>A@CED 92G6 4=:>365 E@ 2 C64@C5 =6G6= :? E96 A2DE E9C66 >@?E9D[ :?4C62D:?8 DA64F=2E:@? E92E 3FJ6CD >2J 36 2446=6C2E:?8 D9:A>6?ED E@ 2G@:5 D@FC4:?8 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] r9:?2 :? pF8FDE :>A@CE65 2 C64@C5 cd` >:==:@? 3FD96=D[ H:E9 ?@ D9:A>6?ED 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] uC@> |2J E9C@F89 pF8FDE @7 E9:D J62C[ r9:?2 :>A@CE65 `]gbf 3:==:@? 3FD96=D @7 D@J362?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r9:?2 v6?6C2= p5>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 rFDE@>D – H:E9 23@FE h_ A6C46?E @7 E9@D6 AFC492D6D 4@>:?8 7C@> qC2K:=’D C64@C5 4C@A]k^Am

kAm%9:D 4@?E6IE 92D 5:C64E=J :?7=F6?465 D@J362? AC:46D :? qC2K:=’D 5@>6DE:4 >2C<6E] &]$] D@J362? AC:46D 2C6 564C62D:?8 3642FD6 @7 r9:?2’D 6>32C8@] qFE qC2K:=:2? AC:46D 92G6 366? :?4C62D:?8 D:?46 |2C49 – 23@FE E96 E:>6 r9:?6D6 3FJ6CD 3682? AFC492D:?8 3:8 G@=F>6D @7 qC2K:=:2? D@J362?D] tG6? 27E6C 2 C64@C5 92CG6DE[ 7:?:D965 :? |2J[ D@J362?\6IA@CE AC6>:F>D 2E qC2K:=:2? A@CED C6>2:? F?FDF2==J :?7=2E65 7@C E9:D E:>6 @7 J62C] %92E’D 96=A:?8 E@ @77D6E 56AC6DD65 :?E6C?2E:@?2= AC:46D 2?5 E96 56AC64:2E:@? @7 E96 &]$] 5@==2C 282:?DE E96 qC2K:=:2? C62=]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mv=@32= EC256 A2EE6C?D D9:7Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

People are also reading…

Dairy era ends in sadness
System continues to protect calf health, ranch profitability
Plant soybeans early, Below says
Lifelong cowboy continues team roping career at 87
Producers urged to implement strong identification processes to safeguard cow herd
Seasonal supply squeeze drives sheep, goat prices
Rooted in dairy, driven by data
Get better hay, returns with small changes
Cattlemen answer the call with hay convoy to wildfire-stricken Nebraska
Laws restrict foreign land owners
EPA makes latest attempt to define WOTUS
Unexpected discovery leads to potential pollination control mechanism
Bales from 1940s a lesson in housing hay long-term
Pollinators exhibit interesting 'bee-havior'
Farmland values relatively stable amid volatile world markets

kAmr9:?2 5C:G6D E96 8=@32= D@J362? EC256[ 244@F?E:?8 7@C 23@FE e_ A6C46?E @7 H@C=5H:56 :>A@CED] x? a_ac[ ab A6C46?E @7 &]$] D@J362? AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 cg A6C46?E @7 qC2K:=’D AC@5F4E:@? H6C6 6IA@CE65 E@ r9:?2] w:DE@C:42==J E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D 366? @?6 @7 r9:?2’D >2:? DFAA=:6CD[ 3FE E9:D EC6?5 92D D9:7E65 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE 564256] uC@> a_`` E@ a_`f – E96 D6G6? J62CD AC6465:?8 E96 EC256 H2C – &]$] 6IA@CED E@ r9:?2 2G6C2865 e_ A6C46?E @7 E@E2= &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED] x? E96 D6G6? J62CD 7@==@H:?8 E96 EC256 H2C[ 7C@> a_`g E@ a_ac[ E92E D92C6 564=:?65 E@ 2? 2G6C286 @7 cf A6C46?E] sFC:?8 E96 D2>6 A6C:@5[ qC2K:=’D 2G6C286 D92C6 :?4C62D65 D=:89E=J 7C@> fb A6C46?E E@ fc A6C46?E]k^Am

kAmr9:?2’D D92C6 @7 &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED 92D 366? :?4C62D:?8 D:?46 a_a_ 3FE 92D ?@E 7F==J C6EFC?65 E@ AC6\EC256\H2C =6G6=D[ 2?5 :? a_ad[ :E ?@H C:D<D 564C62D:?8 D92CA=J 282:?] x7 ?@ 562= :D C624965 :? E96 4@>:?8 H66<D[ qC2K:=’D 6IA@CED E@ r9:?2 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ :?4C62D6 E@ =6G6=D =2DE D66? :? a_`g] pD r9:?2 :?4C62D65 :ED D@J362? AFC492D6D 7C@> qC2K:=[ E96 EH@ 4@F?EC:6D’ :?E6C56A6?56?46 :D 566A6?:?8] %92E C2:D6D BF6DE:@?D 23@FE H96E96C E96:C 28C:4F=EFC2= E:6D C6AC6D6?E 8C62E6C @AA@CEF?:EJ @C 8C@H:?8 @G6C56A6?56?46]k^Am

kAm%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H2D E96 H@C=5’D }@] ` D@J362? 6IA@CE6C 7@C >2?J J62CD] qFE qC2K:= :? a_`b @G6CE@@< E96 &]$] :? D@J362? D9:A>6?ED 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ 7@==@H:?8 @?6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ’D =2DE >2;@C 5C@F89ED] $:?46 E96? qC2K:=’D D92C6 @7 E96 8=@32= D@J362? EC256 92D DE625:=J 6IA2?565[ H:E9 6IA@CED C6249:?8 b]eb 3:==:@? 3FD96=D :? a_ac[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $646I^qC2K:= 52E2] %92E D2>6 J62C[ &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED E@E2=65 `]hb 3:==:@? 3FD96=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6]k^Am

kAmxE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ ?@E6 E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D’ C65F465 C@=6 :? 8=@32= D@J362? >2C<6ED C67=64ED ?@E @?=J H62<6C EC256 E:6D H:E9 r9:?2 3FE 2=D@ :?4C62D:?8 5@>6DE:4 56>2?5] $@J362?\4CFD9 42A24:EJ :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D 366? 8C@H:?8 D:?46 a_a_] %96 6IA2?D:@? :D AC:>2C:=J 7F6=65 3J E96 :?4C62D:?8 56>2?5 7@C D@J362? @:=[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7C@> E96 C6?6H23=6\5:6D6= D64E@C] x? E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ E96 C6?6H23=6\5:6D6= 3@@> 92D DAFCC65 ?6H 56>2?5 7@C D@J362? @:= 2D 2 7665DE@4< :? E96 AC@5F4E:@? @7 3:@7F6=D]k^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 qC2K:= 92D 2=D@ 366? :?4C62D:?8 3:@5:6D6= AC@5F4E:@? :? C646?E J62CD[ 5C:G6? 3J 8@G6C?>6?E\:?46?E:G6 A@=:4:6D[ E96 4@F?ECJ 92D =:<6H:D6 6IA2?565 :ED D@J362? 24C6286[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 3J 4@?G6CE:?8 568C2565 A2DEFC6=2?5 :?E@ 4C@A=2?5 :? E96 qC2K:=:2? D2G2??2[ E96 r6CC25@] {@@<:?8 E@ E96 7FEFC6[ 2 DEF5J 32D65 @? 86@DA2E:2= 52E232D6D 2?5 =65 3J E96 qC2K:=:2? p8C:4F=EFC2= #6D62C49 r@CA@C2E:@?[ t>3C2A2[ D9@HD E92E qC2K:= 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 4@?G6CE 2? 255:E:@?2= f_ >:==:@? 24C6D @7 A2DEFC6=2?5 E@ 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAmu2:=65 EC256 562= 4@F=5 4C62E6 =@DD6Dk^Am

kAmx7 2 EC256 562= :D?’E C624965 E9:D 72==[ &]$] D@J362? AC@5F46CD C6=:2?E @? r9:?6D6 3FJ6CD 4@F=5 DF776C D:8?:7:42?E =@DD6D – 255:?8 6G6? >@C6 7:?2?4:2= DEC6DD E@ 4C@A 72C>D] x?4C62D:?8 :?AFE 6IA6?D6D – DF49 2D 76CE:=:K6C[ 496>:42=D 2?5 D665 – 4@>3:?65 H:E9 564=:?:?8 5@>6DE:4 AC:46D 2C6 2=C625J D9C:?<:?8 AC@7:ED] |@C6@G6C[ >2?J AC@5F46CD >2J 36 7@C465 E@ DE@C6 E96:C 92CG6DE65 D@J362?D C2E96C E92? D6== 2E DE66A =@DD6D[ :>A24E:?8 E96 6?E:C6 DFAA=J 492:? – 7C@> 8C2:? 6=6G2E@CD 2?5 AC@46DD@CD E@ E96 C2:= ?6EH@C< E92E >@G6D E96 4C@A 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am

kAmtG6? 367@C6 E96 C646?E 9:44FA :? &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED[ ?6E C6EFC?D H6C6 AC@;64E65 E@ 36 C6=2E:G6=J 56AC6DD65] %96 4FCC6?E 6IA@CE D:EF2E:@? >28?:7:6D E96 AC@3=6>] $@>6 C6=:67 >:89E 4@>6 7C@> 7656C2=\8@G6C?>6?E A2J>6?ED E@ AC@5F46CD[ 2D 92AA6?65 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 EC256 H2C] qFE :? >2?J 42D6D[ E92E 2DD:DE2?46 >2J ?@E 36 6?@F89 E@ AC6G6?E 2? :?4C62D6 :? 7:?2?4:2= DEC6DD] x? E96 >65:F> E6C>[ E96 AC@=@?865 F?46CE2:?EJ 4@F=5 5:DCFAE A=2?E:?8 564:D:@?D 7@C E96 8C@H:?8 D62D@? @7 a_ae[ 2?5 C65F46 72C>6C 42A24:EJ E@ C6A2J E6C> 563E 2?5 :?G6DE :? 72C> @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm&]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED E@ r9:?2 564=:?6[ 7FCE96C 6C@5:?8 E96 >2C<6E D92C6 =@DE 5FC:?8 E96 a_`g EC256 H2C] r9:?6D6 3FJ6CD 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ <66A D9:7E:?8 AFC492D6D E@ qC2K:= 2?5 @E96C DFAA=:6CD] pD 2 C6DF=E[ qC2K:= 2?5 @E96C $@FE9 p>6C:42? AC@5F46CD DF49 2D pC86?E:?2[ !2C28F2J 2?5 q@=:G:2 >2J :?4C62D6 D@J362? 24C6286 2D 62C=J 2D E9:D J62C[ H:E9 A=2?E:?8 7@C E96 a_ad\a_ae 4C@A 368:??:?8 D@@? 24C@DD E96 $@FE96C? w6>:DA96C6]k^Am

kAm|@C6@G6C[ pC86?E:?2’D 2??@F?46>6?E E92E :E H:== C6>@G6 6IA@CE E2I6D – 42==65 C6E6?4:@?6D[ :? $A2?:D9 – @? 2== 8C2:?D F?E:= ~4E] b` :? 2? 677@CE E@ 3@@DE :ED 5@==2C DFAA=J[ :D 6IA64E65 E@ DAFC 255:E:@?2= 6IA@CED 7C@> E96 H@C=5’D E9:C5\=2C86DE 6IA@CE6C @7 D@J362?D 2?5 E96 =625:?8 6IA@CE6C @7 D@J362? >62= 2?5 @:=] %92E >@G6 H:== 8:G6 r9:?2 J6E 2?@E96C 2EEC24E:G6 @AE:@? E9:D 72== 7@C AFC492D:?8 D@J362?D 2?5 C6=2E65 AC@5F4ED @? E96 8=@32= >2C<6E]k^Am

kAm':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^28]AFC5F6]65F^Qm28]AFC5F6]65Fk^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am

Joana Colussi is an assistant professor in the Purdue University-Department of Agricultural Economics. Michael Langemeier is an agricultural economist with Purdue University. Visit ag.purdue.edu for more information.