WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Sept. 18 that China bought 1.93 million tonnes of soybeans for delivery during the current 2013-14 marketing year from U.S. private exporters.

The USDA also said private exporters sold 182,000 tonnes of soybeans to “unknown destinations” for the 2013-14 marketing year that began Sept. 1. The market typically assumes that sales made to “unknown destinations” are actually going to China.

In the export sales report for the week ended Sept. 5, the USDA said China bought 205,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans for delivery in 2013-14. Additional sales of 73,900 tonnes to “unknown destinations” presumed to be China, were also made during the week ended Sept. 5. Total export sales of U.S. soybeans for that week were 478,100 tonnes. China is the largest importer of U.S. soybeans.