SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL — China imported 51% more soybeans from Brazil in September than in the same month last year, according to an Oct. 25 release from Chinese Customs.

The agency said Brazil exported 7.25 million tonnes of soybeans to China in September, up from 4.79 million tonnes a year earlier.

China, engaged in a protracted trade war with the United States, imported 32% fewer US soybeans — 1.17 million tonnes — in September compared to the same month in 2019, the agency noted.

Overall, China imported 9.8 million tonnes of soybeans in September, up 19% over the previous September.

With China’s swine herd starting to recover from the devastating impact of an outbreak of African swine fever, soybeans are increasingly in demand at processing plants to supply China’s feed industry.

Historically, China reduces its dependence on Brazilian soybeans in the last several months of the year and increases shipments from the United States.

Chinese Customs listed the country’s soybean reserves at 7 million tonnes for the week of Oct. 18, down from the yearly peak of 8 million tonnes in early September.