BEIJING, CHINA — China nearly doubled its soybean imports from the United States in December compared to the previous month, Reuters reported, citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs.

The data showed China imported 6.09 million tonnes of soybeans from the United States, up from 3.63 million tonnes in November, Reuters reported.

The surge in US imports partly was attributed to an increase in cargo after a hurricane that damaged southern US ports limited shipments in the fall.

Meanwhile, soybean imports from Brazil in December were down 43% from November, falling from 3.75 million tonnes to 2.12 million tonnes, according to Reuters. The December total was up 80% from a year earlier, when China took in 1.18 million tonnes from Brazil.