China private crushers buy Australian canola, first deals since 2020
ADM•China's role in the global canola market
China is the world's biggest importer of canola, also called rapeseed. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola and Australia is the second-biggest.
Canola is crushed to produce meal, which is used as an animal feed ingredient, and oil, which is widely used for cooking.
First private-buyer deals since 2020 restrictions
The two deals are the first known purchases by private buyers since Australian canola was effectively shut out of China in 2020, largely because of phytosanitary restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of fungal plant disease.
The cargo that arrived earlier in September is from old crop. Australia's canola harvest will start in October and run through December.
China gradually reopens canola trade with Australia
The Australian agriculture ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Beijing began reopening canola trade with Canberra around mid-2025, initially through trial purchases by state-owned trader COFCO, amid a trade dispute between China and Canada. Private crushers remained excluded until Beijing expanded access in July.
Private Chinese crusher buys new-crop Australian canola
A private Chinese crusher bought 68,000 metric tons of new-crop Australian canola for March shipment, after a similar cargo purchased by another private processor arrived earlier this month, trade sources said, in the first such deals since trade was disrupted in 2020.
