# Soybean futures drop 85 cents as China buying disappoints market

> January 2026 soybean futures lost nearly 85 cents in the past month as Chinese purchases fell short of industry expectations of 12 million tons by year end. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested large purchases may not occur until late February. The article notes earlier gains had been driven by trade-deal announcements and a slightly lower November WASDE stocks estimate.

- Date: 2026-01-01 · published 2026-01-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/21530-soybean-futures-drop-85-cents-as-china-buying-disappoints-market
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Delayed Chinese buying removes a key demand support for US soybeans and the soymeal complex, pressuring prices. Feed users may see softer protein costs unless export sales pick up.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- SOY: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2025-11-05 | [Soybean Futures Retreat Amid Focus on Chinese Buying](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12246-soybean-futures-retreat-amid-focus-on-chinese-buying.md) | +0.5% | +0.7% |
| SOY | 2026-05-14 | [CBOT soybeans fall on disappointment over US-China summit \| MarketScreener](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9299-cbot-soybeans-fall-on-disappointment-over-us-china-summit-marketscreener.md) | -1.3% | -8.2% |
| SOY | 2026-06-04 | [Soybean Futures Drop Amid Questions Around China Demand -- Daily Grain Highlights \| MarketScreener](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12561-soybean-futures-drop-amid-questions-around-china-demand-daily-grain-highlights.md) | -2.7% | -1.9% |
| SOY | 2018-10-24 | [China wants to stop buying American soybeans entirely](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62400-china-wants-to-stop-buying-american-soybeans-entirely.md) | -2.8% | +2.7% |
| SOY | 2024-04-29 | [U.S. Share in China's Soybean Market to Dwindle as Argentina Boosts Supply](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14757-u-s-share-in-china-s-soybean-market-to-dwindle-as-argentina-boosts-supply.md) | +3.6% | +7.6% |
| SBM | 2025-11-05 | [Soybean Futures Retreat Amid Focus on Chinese Buying](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12246-soybean-futures-retreat-amid-focus-on-chinese-buying.md) | -0.4% | -3.4% |
| SBM | 2018-10-24 | [China wants to stop buying American soybeans entirely](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62400-china-wants-to-stop-buying-american-soybeans-entirely.md) | -1.8% | -1.2% |
| SBM | 2025-06-09 | [Decline of China's Soybean Meal Market Amid Rising Imports](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24312-decline-of-china-s-soybean-meal-market-amid-rising-imports.md) | -1.2% | -9.3% |

## Sources

- farmprogress.com: https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/soybean-sell-off-will-prices-rally-into-year-end-

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.