(Yicai Global) Aug. 7 -- China, the world's largest soybean consumer, increased its offshore purchases of the protein-rich animal feed during the first seven months.

China bought 55.1 million tons of the legumes, up 17.7 percent from the same period last year, at an average price of CNY2729.6 per metric ton, data the General Administration of Customs released today show.

The volume of soybeans imported reached 10.09 million metric tons last month alone.

Editor: Ben Armour