U.S. soybean exports to China dropped 39% by volume to 5.9 million metric tons from January to July, before the autumn harvest began, the latest government data show. CRISIS ACUTE FOR ILLINOIS SOYBEAN FARMERS The crisis is particularly acute in Illinois, the largest U.S. soybean producing and exporting state. Despite rising shipments to Vietnam, Egypt, Thailand and Malaysia, total U.S. soybean exports were down 8% by volume from the same period a year ago to 18.9 million tonnes. CHINA DOMINATES GLOBAL SOY IMPORTSWith more than 1.4 billion people and the world's biggest hog herd, China is hard to replace as a soybean buyer. "The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for 'negotiating' reasons only, not buying," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.