Zhoushan Port to see 48 per cent jump in Brazilian soybean ships in April

Around 40 Brazilian soybean ships are expected to have docked at China's Zhoushan port in April, up 48 per cent from last year, a social media account affiliated with the state propaganda broadcaster reported on Monday, as China shuns US suppliers in an escalating trade war.

The account, Yuyuantantian, said the port is projected to unload a total of 700,000 tonnes of Brazilian soybeans this month, a 32 per cent increase.

China has in recent years reduced reliance on US beans while buying more from Brazil.

In March, China imposed 10 per cent levies on imports of US soybeans after President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on Chinese goods.

Beijing has since announced additional 125 per cent tariffs on all imports from the US in response to Trump's hefty reciprocal duties, accelerating a Chinese shift towards alternative suppliers such as Brazil, which is expected to boost China's second-quarter soybean imports to an overall record high.

China bought only 1,800 tonnes of soybeans from the US in the week ended April 17, after 72,800 tonnes in the week ended April 10, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang, Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Kevin Liffey)