Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
China imported no soybeans from the United States in September, marking the first time since November 2018 that shipments from the U.S. fell to zero. The decline comes as the ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies continue to weigh on agricultural exports. According to China’s General Administration of Customs, imports from the U.S. dropped from 1.7 million metric tons a year earlier to none, largely due to steep tariffs and a shift toward South American suppliers.
Analysts attribute the drop primarily to China’s high import tariffs on American soybeans and the exhaustion of old-crop supplies from previous harvests. “This is mainly due to tariffs. In a typical year, some old-crop beans would still enter the market,” said Wan Chengzhi of Capital Jingdu Futures.
Meanwhile, Brazil strengthened its dominance in the Chinese soybean market. Imports from Brazil surged nearly 30% year-on-year to 10.96 million tons in September, accounting for over 85% of China’s total soybean imports. Shipments from Argentina also rose sharply by 91.5% to 1.17 million tons, or 9% of total imports. Overall, China imported 12.87 million tons of soybeans in September, the second-highest monthly volume on record.
China has not purchased any soybeans from the current U.S. harvest, as buyers have opted for cheaper South American alternatives, aided by Argentina’s temporary export tax relief. Experts warn, however, that China may face a potential supply gap between February and April next year if trade talks with Washington fail to resume.
From January to September, China imported 63.7 million tons of soybeans from Brazil and 2.9 million tons from Argentina, both showing year-on-year growth. Despite September’s halt, China’s total U.S. soybean imports in 2025 reached 16.8 million tons, up 15.5% due to earlier purchases.
