China’s imports of soybean in March are expected to fall by 14 percent year-on-year to 3.32 million tons, the official Securities Times reported, citing the Ministry of Commerce.

The ministry has also lowered down its forecast for February soybean imports to 3.32 million tons from 4.05 million previously, according to the newspaper.

In February 2009, the imports were 3.26 million tons.

Full-year 2009 soybean imports rose 13.7 percent to 42.55 million tons, the General Administration of Customs said earlier.

The customs is scheduled to announce February trade figures around mid-March.