China, the world’s top soybean buyer, reduce the amount of foreign material allowed in shipments of US soybeans as of January 1. US soybean shipments arriving at Chinese ports containing up to 1 per cent of foreign material would be expedited while shipments with more than 1 per cent could be held back for testing. Quality specifications for No 2 yellow soybeans – the variety most common in US export contracts – allow for up to 2 per cent foreign material. China requested the change in specifications due mostly to concerns over weed seeds in US cargoes.