Ship With U.S. Soybeans Changes Course From China to Vietnam

(Bloomberg) -- A ship carrying U.S. soybeans changed destination from China to Vietnam on Saturday as exporters find new buyers for American supplies amid an escalating trade war.

Bulk carrier Audacity left Louis Dreyfus’ Pier 86 terminal in Seattle on Oct. 21 for Qingdao, China with 69,244 metric tons of soybeans, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection data and vessel data compiled by Bloomberg. After six days, it changed course to Phu My, Vietnam, the data show. Louis Dreyfus didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

U.S. soybean trade with China has plunged amid a tariff tit-for-tat. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s imports of U.S. soy have risen 93 percent this year, USDA data show.

--With assistance from Dominic Carey.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Varley in Washington at kvarley@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Attwood at jattwood3@bloomberg.net, Shruti Date Singh

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