Chinese soybean imports from January to February in 2021 decrease slightly due to delayed shipments

* Crushers stepped up their purchases on healthy demand

* The rains in Brazil, the leading exporter, slow down the harvest and stimulate American exports

* New cases of African swine fever are hurting pig production and demand for soybean meal

BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) – Chinese soybean imports in the first two months of 2021 declined slightly from a year earlier, customs data showed on Sunday, as rains on Brazil’s main exporter slowed some shipments .

The world’s largest soybean market reported 13.41 million tonnes of oilseeds in January and February, down 0.8% from 13.51 million tonnes a year earlier, according to administration data. general customs.

China’s customs office is releasing preliminary trade data for January and February together rather than separately to iron out the distortions caused by the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which this year was in mid-February.

Soybean imports jumped to a record high last year as crushers increased their purchases on better margins and healthy demand from the pork sector.

Chinese importers have typically turned to US shipments in the fourth quarter and early months of the year when US beans dominate the market. Beijing has also boosted purchases of U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, to honor its commitment to the phase 1 bilateral trade deal reached in January 2020.

Crushers are also said to start buying from Brazil at the start of the year as the South American country’s new crop hits the market, but the rains have slowed the harvest there and boosted US bean exports.

Demand from China has helped rebuild a once massive pig herd that has been wiped out by the deadly African swine fever disease. However, recent outbreaks are hurting pig production in some northern and northeastern provinces, dampening demand for soybean meal, a key ingredient in animal feed.

Chinese grinders imported soybeans for crushing into soybean meal to feed the livestock industry and soybean oil for cooking oil. (Reporting by Hallie Gu and Ryan Woo; Editing by William Mallard)