CHINA’S purchases of Brazilian soybeans jumped 28 percent in September from the prior year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed, as buyers stocked up ahead of an expected shortfall in the fourth quarter of the year.

This is the first time that China has provided data on the country of origin for its commodity imports since the month of March.

China typically buys most of its soybeans in the fourth quarter from the United States but has sharply reduced its purchases of American beans amid a trade spat.

China hit U.S. products including soybeans and grains with a 25-percent duty July 6 in response to similar trade measures levied on Chinese goods.

China is the world’s top importer of the oilseed which it crushes to turn into soymeal to feed its huge herd of livestock.

Chinese buyers imported 7.59 million tons of Brazilian soybeans in September, up from 5.94 million tons a year ago, according to data released.

Brazil accounted for 95 percent of the total 8.01 million tons imported in September, compared with 73 percent at the same time last year.

Soybean imports from the United States were 132,248 tons, compared with 937,000 tons in September last year.

Imports from Argentina were also sharply down to 153,510 tons compared with 738,472 tons last year.

China’s grains shipments from the United States in September also slid significantly as the tariffs curbed buying, the data showed.

China’s September corn imports from the United States fell to only 515.7 tons, down from last year’s 174,965 tons, according to the data.

China brought in 59,455 tons of U.S. sorghum in September, down more than 80 percent from a year earlier.(SD-Agencies)