A harvester unloads soybeans into a truck at a farm during a record soybean harvest season in Brazil's southernmost state in Nao Me Toque, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, April 3, 2024. REUTERS/Diego Vara

China, the world's biggest soybean buyer, has stopped receiving Brazilian soybean shipments from five entities after cargoes did not meet phytosanitary requirements, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Brazil, the world's biggest exporter of the oilseeds, has from Jan. 8 suspended shipments to China from Terra Roxa Comercio de Cereais, Olam Brasil and C.Vale Cooperativa Agroindustrial, one of the sources said.

On Jan. 14, Chinese customs suspended shipments from Cargill Agricola S A and ADM Do Brasil, the source added.

There were concerns after some cargoes had been found with chemical contamination, pests or insects, sources said.

The parent firms of the affected entities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.