# China’s grain imports have slumped big-time

> China's grain purchases have fallen to about 20 million tonnes a year for wheat, corn, barley and sorghum, versus 60 million tonnes in 2021-22. An Argus analyst attributes the drop to record domestic wheat and corn output, tight tariff-rate quotas, and limits on bonded-zone processors. Corn output for 2025-26 is forecast at a record 295 to 298 million tonnes.

- Date: 2025-09-02 · published 2025-09-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/22844-china-s-grain-imports-have-slumped-big-time
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Barley](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARLEY.md), [Sorghum](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SORGHUM.md)

## Why it matters

Structurally lower Chinese import demand removes a major buyer from global grain markets, which is bearish for wheat, corn, barley and sorghum export prices. Lower import needs also weaken demand for feed grains from exporters.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bearish ▼
- WHEAT: bearish ▼
- BARLEY: bearish ▼
- SORGHUM: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2020-12-01 | [China Targets U.S. Farm Imports With Tariffs \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49501-china-targets-u-s-farm-imports-with-tariffs-feed-and-grain.md) | -0.4% | +1.4% |
| CORN | 2025-01-28 | [Panamax Pain as China's Grain Imports Plunge 51%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26705-panamax-pain-as-china-s-grain-imports-plunge-51.md) | +0.7% | -0.3% |
| CORN | 2018-09-24 | [Trade war lowers China’s grain imports \| 2018-09-24  \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62890-trade-war-lowers-china-s-grain-imports-2018-09-24-world-grain.md) | +0.7% | +2.6% |
| CORN | 2023-01-24 | [China’s grain import volume declines in 2022 - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14873-china-s-grain-import-volume-declines-in-2022-grain-central.md) | +1.2% | +1.1% |
| CORN | 2022-02-25 | [China Diversifies Grain Imports, U.S. Gets Smaller Piece \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14959-china-diversifies-grain-imports-u-s-gets-smaller-piece-feed-and-grain.md) | +6.6% | +10.3% |
| WHEAT | 2020-12-01 | [China Targets U.S. Farm Imports With Tariffs \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49501-china-targets-u-s-farm-imports-with-tariffs-feed-and-grain.md) | +9.5% | +8.9% |
| WHEAT | 2018-09-24 | [Trade war lowers China’s grain imports \| 2018-09-24  \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62890-trade-war-lowers-china-s-grain-imports-2018-09-24-world-grain.md) | -0.1% | +7.8% |
| WHEAT | 2018-04-04 | [CPO to gain from China’s soybean import tariff \| The Star](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65604-cpo-to-gain-from-china-s-soybean-import-tariff-the-star.md) | +0.7% | +6.9% |

## Sources

- ukragroconsult.com: https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/chinas-grain-imports-have-slumped-big-time/

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