The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on Oct. 16 that the United States will export 127,000 metric tons of corn to Japan and 558,000 metric tons of soybeans to China for the 2026-27 marketing year. The USDA also reported that 1.88 million metric tons of soybeans were sold over three days, with 236,000 metric tons designated for delivery to unknown destinations.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins reported on Oct. 8 that U.S. soybean sales commitments had reached 20 million metric tons for the marketing year, marking the strongest start in more than three years. She highlighted increased demand from several Asian markets, including an 88% increase in sales to Indonesia and the strongest four-week stretch of soybean purchases from Malaysia in eight years. Soybean meal commitments to Vietnam were nearly three times those of the previous year.
Rollins noted that China was on track to meet its commitment to purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, an agreement established before the 30-for-30 framework was signed. According to Reuters, Chinese state buyers purchased 10 to 13 Panamax cargoes of U.S. soybeans ahead of Oct. 16, marking the second large-scale round of purchases since President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
In September, the American Soybean Association urged Trump to ensure China fulfilled its commitments to purchase at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually in 2026, 2027, and 2028. At the time, ASA estimated Chinese buyers had ordered 15.5 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans for the current marketing year, compared with 3.7 million metric tons at the same point the previous year. The ASA emphasized the importance of consistent demand from China, one of the largest markets for U.S. soybean exports.