# Is Southeast Asia China's new middleman for US soybeans? - Nikkei Asia

> China's retaliatory tariffs have cut U.S. soybean exports to China, but shipments to Southeast Asia have jumped about 90%, suggesting Chinese buyers are routing purchases through third countries. U.S. beans have become comparatively cheap due to the trade war and a large harvest.

- Date: 2018-10-23 · published 2018-10-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region Global · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/62402-is-southeast-asia-china-s-new-middleman-for-us-soybeans-nikkei-asia
- Commodities: [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Rerouting lets some U.S. soybeans reach Chinese crushers, limiting the downside for U.S. prices, but discounts on U.S. beans reflect weaker export margins. Feed buyers may see cheaper soymeal supply from re-exported origins.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: neutral
- SOY: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SOY | 2026-05-21 | [China demand still a big driver for Canadian canola, soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19210-china-demand-still-a-big-driver-for-canadian-canola-soybeans.md) | +0.0% | -6.3% |
| SOY | 2019-10-15 | [Soybean promoters shop for  new markets as talks with China continue](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56619-soybean-promoters-shop-for-new-markets-as-talks-with-china-continue.md) | -0.8% | -3.8% |
| SOY | 2020-05-15 | [Soybeans down, despite demand from China - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/53164-soybeans-down-despite-demand-from-china-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -0.0% | +4.3% |
| SOY | 2026-06-23 | [U.S. fights with Brazil for China's giant soybean market](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14570-u-s-fights-with-brazil-for-china-s-giant-soybean-market.md) | -0.6% | +9.3% |
| SOY | 2018-02-20 | [U.S. soybean exports in prime spot for China buys - Morning Ag Clips](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66494-u-s-soybean-exports-in-prime-spot-for-china-buys-morning-ag-clips.md) | +1.2% | +0.1% |
| SBM | 2017-12-22 | [China tightens import rules for U.S. soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67345-china-tightens-import-rules-for-u-s-soybeans.md) | -0.5% | +8.1% |
| SBM | 2026-07-31 | [Chinese buyers acquire US soybeans for October-November, traders say \| South China Morning Post](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14561-chinese-buyers-acquire-us-soybeans-for-october-november-traders-say-south-china.md) | -0.6% | +5.6% |
| SBM | 2018-07-19 | [Aquafeed.com \|
   

   
    CHINA - New tariffs on US soybeans unlikely to impact aquatic feed](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64111-aquafeed-com-china-new-tariffs-on-us-soybeans-unlikely-to-impact-aquatic-feed.md) | +0.5% | +0.4% |

## Sources

- asia.nikkei.com: https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/is-southeast-asia-china-s-new-middleman-for-us-soybeans

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