# Trade off: China soybean imports set for biggest drop in 12 years amid tariff conflict

> China's soybean imports are expected to fall to roughly 18-20 million tonnes in the fourth quarter, down from 24.1 million a year earlier, according to traders. The decline follows China's retaliatory 25% duty on U.S. soybeans imposed in July, amid a widening tariff dispute.

- Date: 2018-10-18 · published 2018-10-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/62396-trade-off-china-soybean-imports-set-for-biggest-drop-in-12-years-amid-tariff
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Lower Chinese purchases reduce global soybean demand and pressure soybean and meal prices, while shifting trade flows toward Brazil. Smaller soymeal supply for feed also tightens protein availability for animal-feed buyers.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- SOY: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2022-11-07 | [China’s October soybean imports slide to lowest in eight years](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38680-china-s-october-soybean-imports-slide-to-lowest-in-eight-years.md) | +0.3% | -0.9% |
| SOY | 2025-10-20 | [China imports no US soybeans in September for first time in seven years \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14630-china-imports-no-us-soybeans-in-september-for-first-time-in-seven-years-reuters.md) | +2.2% | +9.1% |
| SOY | 2018-04-05 | [All the Threats and Tariffs in the U.S.-China Trade Conflict](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65378-all-the-threats-and-tariffs-in-the-u-s-china-trade-conflict.md) | +3.2% | +1.7% |
| SOY | 2018-05-10 | [China set to trim 2018/19 soybean imports as trade row boosts prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64912-china-set-to-trim-2018-19-soybean-imports-as-trade-row-boosts-prices.md) | -0.7% | -3.3% |
| SOY | 2018-12-24 | [China imports zero US soybeans in Nov for first time since trade war started](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61444-china-imports-zero-us-soybeans-in-nov-for-first-time-since-trade-war-started.md) | -0.3% | +3.4% |
| SBM | 2025-10-20 | [China imports no US soybeans in September for first time in seven years \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14630-china-imports-no-us-soybeans-in-september-for-first-time-in-seven-years-reuters.md) | +4.3% | +15.7% |
| SBM | 2018-05-10 | [China set to trim 2018/19 soybean imports as trade row boosts prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64912-china-set-to-trim-2018-19-soybean-imports-as-trade-row-boosts-prices.md) | -3.2% | -7.9% |
| SBM | 2018-12-24 | [China imports zero US soybeans in Nov for first time since trade war started](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61444-china-imports-zero-us-soybeans-in-nov-for-first-time-since-trade-war-started.md) | +0.2% | +2.4% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-soybeans/trade-off-china-soybean-imports-set-for-biggest-drop-in-12-years-amid-tariff-conflict-idUSKCN1MS0C5/

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