Soybean crop expected to continue production growth

Soybean crops in China are expected to exceed 8.6 million hectares this year, which would mark the fourth year of consecutive growth, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Wednesday.

Monitoring by the ministry showed soybean planting during both spring and summer this year has increased across China - with a greater increase in Northeast China, the primary soybean production area, Pan Wenbo, chief for farming supervision at the ministry, said at a news conference.

The ministry has carried out a plan to revive soybean production since the beginning of this year, aiming to increase domestic production to reduce the growing gap between supply and demand in recent years, he said.

With the implementation of the plan, it is expected soybean crops in China will increase to 9.3 million hectares by the end of next year, and the production of soybeans per hectare will also increase.

With increasing domestic demand for protein and edible oil, demand for soybeans has been increasing in China in recent years. Soybeans are a major agricultural import, with most soybeans consumed in China imported.