China increased imports of Brazilian soybeans at 11.7% in April compared to the previous year, data showed on Monday. Newly harvested and cheap Brazilian grains continue to arrive at Chinese ports in Brazil, where production has been impacted by flooding.
China imported 5.92 million tons of the oilseed from Brazil last month, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
Brazil ships most of its soybean crop from March to June, when it harvests. But deadly floods in Rio Grande do Sul, a major producing state, disrupted this season's harvest and led to cuts in local soy production estimates.
April arrivals of soybeans from the US, China's second-largest supplier, increased by 44% compared with the same period last year, to 2.45 million tonnes, but total arrivals so far this year remain lower.
Total soybean imports in April were 8.57 million tons.
In the period from January to April, total shipments from Brazil were 15.9 million tons. An increase of 72% compared to the same period last year.
Total US arrivals in the first four months of the year were 9.58 million tonnes. A drop of 40% compared to the previous year, according to the data.
Source: Mei Mei Chu | Notícias Agrícolas
