China's Soybean Imports Almost Certain to Decline It is becoming increasingly clear that China's soybean imports in the current marketing year will be lower than imports from a year ago because of the effects of the avian flu outbreak. Consumers have sharply reduced their consumption of chicken meal since the flu outbreak in China, and demand for soymeal has declined as a result.A group from the U.S. Soybean Export Council was at an event in Shanghai this week attended by officials from the soybean processing and animal feed sectors. They learned from local feed millers that demand for animal feed in the Shanghai area is down by about 30 percent and that animal production is being sharply reduced. It is not clear if other parts of the co...