The American Soybean Association says that since May, China has no longer purchased U.S. soybeans.As U.S. soybeans enter the harvest season, the heart of soy farmers facing huge losses due to soybeans delay is burning.
U.S. media reported that although agricultural output has reached a record this year, farmers may have nowhere to sell their agricultural products."Farmers 'loyalty to Trump (the administration) is about to be tested." The British "Financial Times" also reported that the United States is full of soybeans this year, but prices have fallen, making it difficult for farmers to make ends meet. "Overseas sales of the United States 'No. 1 agricultural product have dropped sharply, causing a' devastating 'blow to American farmers."
American soybean farmers: backlash from tariff war
American countryside is suffering greatly
At the moment, the American soybeans have entered the harvest season, and the American soybeans farmers are honestly concerned with the tariff war, and the American rural areas are currently in great trouble.
U.S. farmer Chris Gould: The U.S. countryside is currently suffering greatly.China has always been the number one buyer of our soybeans, and a large portion of our soybeans have been sold to China.But when we (the U.S.) began to disrupt international trade, China began to look for other sources of supply.
Soybeans are crucial to U.S. agriculture and agricultural exports. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, soybeans will top U.S. agricultural exports in 2024 with exports of $24.58 billion, accounting for 14% of total agricultural exports.
China was previously the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans, purchasing US$12.64 billion worth of soybeans in 2024, accounting for more than half of total U.S. soybean exports. US media said that since May 2025, China has never purchased a single soybean from the United States.
U.S. bean farmers: It’s very frustrating, we’re doing everything we can to grow good crops to meet global demand, but we’re barely able to sell them.
Government shutdown, agricultural subsidy plan postponed
Soybean prices plummet as soybean farmers sell equipment to make ends meet
The White House had planned to launch an agricultural subsidy plan this week to allocate $12 billion to $13 billion to rescue farmers suffering from the customs war, but the subsidy was postponed due to government shutdowns and will not be implemented in the near term.
American soybean farmer: I'm facing the worst situation in my life.
As soybean prices plummet, U.S. soybean farmers are doing everything they can to make ends meet and even plan to sell equipment. Joel Tractor Company of Iowa has increased the number of agricultural machinery waiting for auction this year by 30%.
US media reporter: If neither side gives in, China will not purchase (American) soybeans at all. Where will the soybeans harvested this year be sold?
Grant Gardner, a grain cultivation expert at the University of Kentucky, said the United States would face a difficult situation when soybean products were delayed.
Trump has failed to find a buyer.
Brazil's soybean exports hit record high
According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, in addition to China, the major buyers of U.S. soybeans include Mexico, the European Union, Japan and Indonesia. Now Chinese orders are shifting to Brazil and Argentina, the United States is urging countries in Africa and Asia to increase purchases, and Trump's team is even pushing to markets such as India.
In a statement released in September, American Soybean Association President Raglan called on the Trump administration to "prioritize ensuring an immediate soybean deal with China."
While the White House fights tariffs on farmers’ interests, other agricultural exporters take advantage of U.S. market shares.
In July 2025, Brazil introduced a policy to establish a exclusive soybean supply chain to encourage farmers to increase their export share to China through customized varieties and processes.
According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post website on September 30, Argentina’s soybean export orders rose to a seven-year high in September, due to Chinese importers buying millions of tons of soybeans during Argentina’s short-term export tax suspension, with more than half of the recent demand coming from South America.
The Brazilian National Association of Cereal Exporters estimates that the total export of Brazilian soybeans from January to October 2025 will exceed 100 million tons, reaching 1.02 billion tons, exceeding the highest record set for the entire year in 2023, and the total export of Brazilian soybeans is expected to reach 1.1 million tons in 2025.
Data from the association shows that China is the main export destination for Brazil's soybeans. So far this year, 79.9% of Brazil's soybeans have been exported to China; in September, 6.5 million tons of soybeans were exported to China, accounting for 93% of the month's total exports.
According to reference sources, foreign media reported on October 3 that China and Brazil will jointly create an investment fund for the first time. Bloomberg quoted a statement on the 2nd as saying that Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development and the Export-Import Bank of China agreed to jointly create a fund to invest in energy transformation, infrastructure, minerals, agriculture and artificial intelligence. According to the statement, the new investment fund will invest in Brazilian bonds and equity. Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development and the Export-Import Bank of China have signed relevant documents for cooperation in the establishment of new funds.