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U.S. Grain Shipments Rise 9% Despite Chinese Tariffs Boosting Export Dynamics
U.S. seaborne grain exports rose 9% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, driven by maize shipments to new markets. This growth occurred even as exports to China dropped sharply due to retaliatory tariffs.
Despite a sharp decline in Chinese demand due to retaliatory tariffs, U.S. seaborne grain exports increased by 9% year-on-year during the first half of 2025. Maize shipments in particular drove this growth, with traders finding new buyers in Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. While China’s share of U.S. grain exports dropped from 26% in H1 2024 to just 10% in 2025, the diversification of export destinations allowed total volumes to rise.
However, other grains struggled under the pressure. Soybean exports declined by 10%, and sorghum shipments fell by a staggering 89%, due to their heavy reliance on Chinese demand. Additionally, tonne-mile demand fell 7% as average shipping distances decreased—down 14%—due to rerouted flows and resumed Panama Canal usage.
