China, the world's biggest buyer of soybeans, boosted imports by 3.2 percent in November as prices, which dropped from a record, spurred purchases.

Shipments were 4.16 million metric tons, up from 4.03 million tons in October and compared with 5.7 million tons in November 2011, customs data showed on Monday.

Imports in the first 11 months rose 11.4 percent to 52.5 million tons, the data showed. Soybeans in Chicago surged to a record in September after the worst US drought in half a century parched fields in the biggest exporter of soybeans last year.

China Daily - Agencies