plugin-import-export is not able to import its own exported collections with 1:N relationship

[pinuts-SebastianGolbert]

Describe the Bug

I created a "Campaign" slug with these field:

  fields: [
    {
      name: 'name',
      type: 'text',
      required: true,
    },
    {
      name: 'description',
      type: 'text',
      required: true,
    },
    {
      name: 'events',
      type: 'relationship',
      relationTo: 'event',
      hasMany: true,
    },
  ],

As it is seen in the image, the generated event_# columns are ignored when importing, and the resulting events columns is empty.

Link to the code that reproduces this issue

https://github.com/pinuts-SebastianGolbert/payload-import-issue

Reproduction Steps

Export campaigns

Try to import campaigns

This can be reproduced more faithfully by using different sqlLite dbs in the .env file (one for export, one for import), but it can also be done with the preview function.

Which area(s) are affected?

plugin: import-export

Environment Info

Binaries:
  Node: 22.22.2
  npm: 10.9.7
  Yarn: 1.22.22
  pnpm: 10.34.3
Relevant Packages:
  payload: 3.85.1
  next: 16.2.6
  @payloadcms/db-sqlite: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/drizzle: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/graphql: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/next/utilities: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/plugin-import-export: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/richtext-lexical: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/translations: 3.85.1
  @payloadcms/ui/shared: 3.85.1
  react: 19.2.6
  react-dom: 19.2.6
Operating System:
  Platform: darwin
  Arch: arm64
  Version: Darwin Kernel Version 25.5.0: Mon Apr 27 20:38:56 PDT 2026; root:xnu-12377.121.6~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T6000
  Available memory (MB): 32768
  Available CPU cores: 8