Soybean futures are bucking the decline in the broader financial markets and joining other agricultural commodities on Tuesday. Soybean prices have been looking to test $15 each time they topped the $14 threshold. Could the crop finally begin to flirt with this important mark?

May soybean futures surged $0.22, or 1.53%, to $14.585 per bushel at 17:40 GMT on Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBoT). After some hiccups, soybeans have reignited their rally, soaring 5% over the last week. Year-to-date, the agricultural commodity is up nearly 12%.

Soybean is finding support in strengthening Chinese demand. According to the General Administration of Customs, Beijing imported 7.77 million tons in March, up 82% from the previous month. The two biggest markets for China have been Brazil and the US, but recent shipments have been lopsided.

China imported 7.18 million tons of soybeans from the US, up 320% from the same time a year ago. However, the world’s largest soybean buyer imported just 315,334 tons from Brazil, down 85% from the previous year.

Despite the massive acquisitions, a severe wave of the African swine flu is weighing on approximately one-fifth of the breeding herd in China’s northern region. Authorities had thought hog supplies would return to pre-crisis levels by late this year. But a resurgence of the African swine flu could significantly impact the nation’s animal feed consumption.

That said, if China needed to rely on foreign imports of pork, it would be beneficial for US hog prices, which are already trading at record highs.

In other industry news, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reporting that soybean crop was 3% planted, matching market expectations. Brazil, meanwhile, suspended import duties on soybeans until the end of the year.

In other agricultural commodities, May corn futures added $0.1525, or 2.58%, to $6.075 per pound. May wheat futures jumped $0.10, or 1.53%, to $6.6375 a bushel. May coffee futures edged up by $0.0025, or 0.19%, to $1.347 per pound.