The Agriculture Department’s latest report confirms that these aggressive purchases for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 marketing years have helped sustain soybean futures, keeping prices above $12 a bushel. China’s activity marks a sharp pivot from recent months, during which the nation largely sourced its supply from South America, leaving American exporters on the sidelines.

While soybeans thrived, other major crops struggled to meet market benchmarks. Corn exports reached 626,200 tons, falling short of the lowest analyst forecasts, while wheat sales totaled 235,100 tons. Following the release of the data, CBOT futures showed marginal movement, with soybeans and corn both dipping 0.2% in premarket trading as traders adjusted to the shifting export landscape.