China bound shipments from U.S. Gulf resume, soy and sorghum return

Shipping schedules seen by Reuters on November 25, 2025 showed two vessels scheduled to call at Louisiana Gulf terminals to load U.S. soybeans and a third vessel bound for a Corpus Christi, Texas grain terminal to load sorghum for China. Those sailings, if completed, would represent the first U.S. soybean exports to China since May and the first sorghum shipments since March, ending a multi month pause that has loomed over export dependent farm incomes and trading desks.

The scheduled loadings follow a series of diplomatic and trade discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials, and come amid public statements that both sides were exploring larger agricultural purchasing commitments after high level meetings. Traders and farmers had been seeking tangible evidence that the verbal assurances would translate into cargoes, and the arrival and loading schedules observed by Reuters indicate practical movement toward resumed trade. Any final shipments remain contingent on confirmation of official sales, documentation and port logistics.

The pause in takes by China, the world s largest buyer of soybeans and a major user of sorghum for animal feed and industrial uses, tightened options for U.S. exporters through the summer and autumn. For U.S. Gulf exporters, two additional vessel loadings would add to throughput volumes at key terminals already stretched by a busy export season. For farmers in the U.S. Midwest and Plains, renewed access to Chinese demand would ease pressure on domestic stocks that built up while a large buyer stepped back.

Market participants will watch for formal export sales notifications from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and shipping manifests that confirm buyers and quantities. Until those steps are visible, the schedules remain indications of intent rather than completed business. Logistics remain a second hurdle, with vessel availability, berth capacity and inland trucking all determining the speed with which loaded cargoes can move into international trade lanes.

The potential resumption also has macroeconomic implications. A return of Chinese buying would influence U.S. and global oilseed balances and could provide support for futures markets that have traded with increased volatility during the trade lull. Increased corn alternative demand for sorghum could reshape feed grain flows in export markets where sorghum competes with corn and barley.

Longer term the episode underscores the sensitivity of agricultural markets to geopolitical talks and state level procurement decisions. If the recent arrivals lead to a steady stream of purchases under the broader commitments discussed in diplomatic exchanges, U.S. exporters and farmers could regain a crucial outlet for this and next season s crops. If, however, the flow proves intermittent, market uncertainty is likely to persist and domestic supply pressure may continue to weigh on farm gate returns. For now the ship manifests seen on November 25 provide the clearest sign yet that stated intentions are progressing toward practical shipments, subject to the remaining formalities that close export transactions.