China will increase the import of grains and oil crops.

This year, in the PRC, the pace of purchases of grain and oilseeds will remain at a record high level. This is reported by the resource OleoScope citing data from the analytical company StoneX.

This happened despite numerous rejections of previous batches that had been contracted earlier. It is not specified which particular crops are being referred to. The likely reason could be non-compliance with quality and safety requirements. China sets strict conditions for deliveries, including requirements for mycotoxin, pesticides, and other dangerous substances content, as well as for packaging of the products. However, despite this, the deficit of some grains and oilseeds within the country and low world prices for them compensate for this factor.

In the first two months of this year, China tripled its barley imports compared to the same period last year, reaching 2.71 million tons. The main part of the batches was purchased from Russia, France, Australia, and Canada. Barley import from Russia remains at a high level due to confirmed quality approved by Chinese specialists. For a similar reason, Australian barley is actively purchased after the cancellation of anti-dumping duties. France and Canada were seen as alternative sources before the restrictions were lifted. Barley is used in China for beer production. Corn purchases increased by 16 percent to 6.19 million tons. The grain legume culture was purchased from the US, Brazil, and other major producing countries. Increased demand for livestock feed and unfavorable weather conditions affecting crop yields were the reasons for the increase in purchases. The quota for the purchase of grain legume crops is now just over seven million tons. The total cost of agricultural product imports in US dollars amounted to 234 billion.

Analysts predict that after April of this year, China's trade activity will resume, and the overall import of grain and oilseeds will not be lower than last year. It is expected that China will begin actively purchasing high-quality food wheat from the US, Canada, and Australia. China will blend this wheat with domestic crops as the quality of the latter has deteriorated significantly due to unfavorable weather conditions.