August 28, 2026

Chinese delegation visits Indiana

By Erica Quinlan
The Indiana Soybean Alliance hosted more than a dozen soybean buyers from China earlier this month for agricultural tours throughout the state. The Chinese delegation made their way to the Hoosier State after attending 2026 Soy Connext in Chicago, which is an annual export-focused conference organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance hosted more than a dozen soybean buyers from China earlier this month for agricultural tours throughout the state. The Chinese delegation made their way to the Hoosier State after attending 2026 Soy Connext in Chicago, which is an annual export-focused conference organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council. (Provided photo/ISA)

INDIANAPOLIS — A delegation of soybean buyers from China toured Indiana farms and agribusinesses, including Fischer Food Grade and Seed in Shelbyville, the Chris Eck family farm in Boggstown and Bunge Soy Processing in Morristown.

The tour ended with the delegation eating food cooked in high oleic soybean oil during a baseball game at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

After hosting the delegation on his family farm, Eck said there is no substitute for building relationships.

“When trade is difficult and competitive, relationships become more important,” he said. “By having the delegation at our farm and local businesses, we’re able to show what we do best.

“We produce quality products, grown sustainably, at a competitive price. The delegation was able to see it with their own eyes, and that matters in a competitive market.”

U.S. soybean exports — including whole soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil — are projected to grow by 5% in the 2026-2027 marketing year.

This increase is driven by increased demand across more markets and a projected return-to-normal demand from China, according to the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate monthly report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects China’s soybean imports at 115 million metric tons in the 2026-2027 marketing year — a new record.

“We’re seeing China’s purchases return closer to normal and other destinations continuing to grow,” said Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

“This is a good place to be. That’s not a coincidence. It’s what happens when you keep showing up. Even when there were trade issues in various places, or in the worst case when trade stopped, USSEC never stopped engaging with our international partners.

“That persistence combined with the reliability, quality and value U.S. soy delivers, kept the door open and is what’s driving this growth today.”

Indiana is the fourth-largest soybean-producing state in America. The state annually produces more than 330 million bushels of soybeans worth more than $4 billion.

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Erica Quinlan

Erica Quinlan

Field Editor