Bulkers carrying grain cargoes have been waiting as long as four weeks to discharge at major ports in China — but, while data shows vessel counts have eased, waiting times are increasing.

Data shows cargoes of about 3.5m tonnes sitting on vessels.

China imported 51m tonnes of grain in the first four months of 2021, up from 31m tonnes in the same period last year, with maize alone rising from 2m tonnes to...