U.S. soybean and sorghum exports to China are resuming after months of trade disruption, with two cargo vessels heading to Louisiana terminals to load soybeans and a third bound for Texas to carry sorghum. These shipments mark the first American exports of soybeans to China since May and the first sorghum shipment since mid-March, following a period in which Beijing largely avoided U.S. crops amid trade tensions.
China has booked nearly 2 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans and a smaller volume of wheat after a late-October meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. While the White House reported that China agreed to purchase 12 million tons of soybeans before the end of the year, the deal has not yet been formally confirmed by Beijing, creating uncertainty in grain markets. Shipping data indicates the vessel Ocean Harvest is scheduled to arrive at Cargill’s Reserve terminal in Louisiana, while the Tokugawa will dock at Zen-Noh Grain’s facility in Convent, Louisiana. Meanwhile, the Bungo Queen is headed to Archer Daniels Midland’s terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas, to be loaded with sorghum.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told CNBC that a new aid package for farmers is nearing finalization. “We have always said it is to solve for or mitigate anything under these new trade negotiations,” she said, noting that an announcement is expected in the next week or two. Rollins also confirmed that China has begun purchasing U.S. soybeans again. “They’ve already put in a purchase order. We’ve already started shipping soybeans their way,” she said, adding that current sales are significantly higher than a few months ago.
U.S. officials have indicated that China plans to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans this year and at least 25 million tons annually over the next three years. Rollins emphasized the importance of diversifying export markets beyond China, cautioning that U.S. agriculture should not be overly dependent on a single foreign market. The resumption of shipments is a critical step for American farmers and traders seeking to recover billions of dollars in lost trade.
