By Dominique Patton
BEIJING, July 13 (Reuters) - China's June soybean imports fell 23% from a year earlier to 8.25 million tonnes, as high global prices and weak demand curbed appetite for the oilseed, customs data showed on Wednesday.
Last month's imports were also lower than May's 9.67 million tonnes, data from the General Administration Sale of used CNC machines with transport Customs showed.
Soybean prices have surged this year after bad weather hurt production and exports in Brazil, China's top supplier, while demand from the world's top buyer is also significantly weaker than a year ago.
Soybean arrivals <CNC-SOY-IMP> last June reached their third highest on record.
"You cannot compare this year and last year. The situation has totally changed," said a China-based soybean trader who declined to be identified.
Hog farmers faced heavy losses for much of the first half of the year and have been reducing herd numbers.
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