- China has purchased approximately 120,000 tons of American wheat—the first such purchase since October 2024.
- The transactions include soft white and spring wheat, with delivery in December.
- The purchase took place shortly after the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
New wheat purchases after leaders’ meeting
China has purchased two cargoes of US wheat, the first such move since October 2024. The deals involve around 120,000 tonnes of grain, including soft white wheat and spring wheat – with delivery scheduled for December.
The purchase came immediately after President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping held talks in South Korea. The timing of the contracts indicates that the decision may have been politically significant, being part of a signalling of a willingness to improve economic relations.
Last year, China reduced imports from the US, targeting suppliers from Australia, Canada and Russia. The return to US grain may therefore indicate a change in priorities and a desire to gradually normalise agricultural trade between the two countries.
Signals of relaxation in trade relations
In parallel, Beijing announced the temporary removal of some tariffs on US agricultural products, including wheat, maize and cotton, while maintaining some tariff restrictions. The move is set to take effect from 10 November and is seen as a gesture towards stabilising trade relations with Washington.
While the purchase of the two cargoes does not yet represent a significant change in the grain trade balance, it may herald a gradual rebuilding of exchanges in the agricultural sector after a period of slowdown and economic stress. For US exporters, it is a signal that the Chinese market remains open to cooperation, and for global grain markets, a potential stabilising factor for prices and trading volumes in the coming months.
