It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
US misses out on billions of dollars of China soybean sales midway through peak seasonThe U.S. normally ships most of its soybeans to China between September and January, before Brazil's harvest hits the market, but Chinese buyers have yet to book any U.S. cargoes for the new crop year, according to traders tracking shipments.
In 2024, China bought roughly 20% of its soybeans from the U.S., down from 41% in 2016, the customs data shows. From January-July 2025, China imported 42.26 million tons from Brazil, while shipments from the U.S. totalled 16.57 million tons.
The prolonged absence of Chinese buying is expected to weigh further on benchmark Chicago soybean futures , already hovering near five-year lows.
U.S. soybeans are about 80 to 90 cents a bushel cheaper than Brazilian soybeans for September-October shipment, but China's 23% tariff on U.S. shipments adds $2 a bushel to the cost for importers, traders said.
© 2015 Mutual Fund Observer. All rights reserved.
© 2015 Mutual Fund Observer. All rights reserved. Powered by Vanilla
Comments
(Wiki:)
"The Wreck of the Hesperus" is a narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, first published in Ballads and Other Poems in 1842.[1] It is a story that presents the tragic consequences of a skipper's pride. On an ill-fated voyage in winter, he brings his daughter aboard ship for company. The skipper ignores the advice of one of his experienced men, who fears that a hurricane is approaching. When the storm arrives, the skipper ties his daughter to the mast to prevent her from being swept overboard. She calls out to her dying father as she hears the surf beating on the shore, then prays to Christ to calm the seas. The ship crashes onto the reef of Norman's Woe and sinks; the next morning a horrified fisherman finds the daughter's body, still tied to the mast and drifting in the surf. The poem ends with a prayer that all be spared such a fate "on the reef of Norman's Woe."
Within that construct lies a notable hypocrisy permeating conservative politics. For example, here in Colorado, 100% of the farmers/ranchers depend on government subsidies to weather the variety of storms that affect crops and livestock, and yet, 80-90% of them vote for dark red nonsense politicians (like Boebert) who continually decry socialism within our society. Go figure.
I'll never understand how this hypocrisy is allowed to continue and be exploited during election season. There should be a tipping point soon.
The article brings up a good point regarding how the new tariffs are promulgating this issue. The current administration claims huge profits from tariffs (which are indirect taxes on the American consumer) and yet they most likely will be forced to distribute massive farmer subsidies as a result of this singular and unnecessary tariff war. Imho, international economic policy should be a prudent escalation/equivalence of tariffs over several years, not a tidal wave of bullying over a few months. 2026 will be an interesting/daunting year.
US ag industry has been hurt by tariffs and counter tariffs. US farmers are in panic mode. They already have higher fertilizer, equipment and labor costs, and now their production cannot be exported as usual.
Another news item item I saw was the some countries have suddenly slashed the declared values at US Customs to 33-50% and the US Customs staff are clueless. Just do the math - there may be 50% tariff on, say, old X, but if the declared new value is only 0.33X, the duty is 0.33*0.50X, or 0.165X, NOT 0.50X. Of course, slashing the declared values at Customs doesn't change the US retail price at all.
Where's the BEEF, Derf
Reuters story. Via AgWeek (subscription not required) using Facebook referral link (so disabling ad blocker not required)
Regarding corn, from the NYTimes (subscription typically rqd): Not to worry about the farmers, they're in good hands. Mr. Bessent is in charge of negotiations, and he's strongly motivated to get the farmers a good "framework" of a deal. NYTimes, Sept 15.
Well, motivated perhaps, but not in a hurry.
:
The other risk is that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is to grow their own trading partners for many products and technological advances (semiconductors, batteries, and EVs). We are no longer in Kansas anymore…
https://seafarerfunds.com/commentary/one-belt-one-road-many-motives/
Still, the numbers tell the story. Once you add the cost of tariffs, our soybeans are no longer competitive. And that is at only a 23% tariff rate to China. And ignoring the politics/negotiating angle.
It seems we have "re-shored" our soybean crops. America First!
Math? Not a problem. "The uneducated" don't do math.
Nah. Often the pocketbook wins over loathing. Just a month ago ...
Grassley, Ernst, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Expand Consumer Access to Homegrown Biofuels
Math? Not a problem. "The uneducated" don't do math.
Unfortunately basic mathematical concepts are not only not understood by most people regardless of education level, but math is actively avoided. Here's the trailer from an excellent documentary on both the problem and approaches to improving comprehension. There are very few screenings, but if there's one near you it is worth catching. I was fortunate enough to see it at the National Museum of Mathematics when it hosted the movie creators.
But it's not just math ed that is the issue. Data sources and statistical viewpoints are regularly camouflaged by the media and public figures, usually for their own benefit. Polls done yesterday and today may not represent the bias of tomorrow.
Thx for the reference.
To your second point, no kidding. Most people need a calculator to figure a 20% tip on a $10 restaurant charge. And wouldn't recognize if hey hit the wrong key and got an incorrect answer.
I appreciate the share.
The other problem is meat products.
Our population replacement rate is too low to keep up with our labor needs, and immigration was filling that gap, just barely.
Those who are looking to automation and AI for productivity gains are hopefully correct.
I do agree that using CPI as a gauge for wage increases can be quite sketchy.
Before you argue with people online, I’d like to reraise the fact that the A&W 1/3 pound burger failed because people thought that, for just a little bit more cash, they could get the bigger McDonald’s 1/4pounder.