Wedoany.com Report-Jun. 30, Chinese companies have finalized their first purchase of soybean meal from Argentina since the country approved imports in 2019, aiming to diversify supply sources for its animal feed industry. On June 26, 2025, four trade sources reported to Reuters that several Chinese feed producers jointly agreed to buy 30,000 tonnes of Argentine soybean meal for delivery in July, with the shipment expected to arrive in Guangdong province by September.

The cargo, priced at $360 per tonne on a cost and freight basis, marks a trial to test China’s inspection and quarantine processes. A Singapore-based trader at an international trading company stated: “This is just a trial case. If it passes China’s inspection and quarantine, we expect more deals.” China, the world’s largest consumer of protein-rich animal feed, primarily produces soybean meal by crushing imported soybeans from Brazil and the United States. Argentina, the leading global exporter of soybean oil and meal, offers a new supply option.

The purchase aligns with efforts to ensure stable feed supplies amid global market uncertainties. Gustavo Idígoras, head of Argentina’s CIARA-CEC Chamber of Oilseeds Processing and Export, met with a Chinese delegation, including Liu Huanxin, director of China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, to discuss export opportunities. Idígoras noted: “We have talked at length about the possibility of exporting soybean meal, and he seemed open to it if commercial conditions allow.” He added: “There are a lot of inquiries from Chinese firms for Argentine meal, but at the moment we have no confirmed deals.”

Lower prices for Argentine soybean meal compared to domestically produced alternatives have driven interest, with Argentina exporting 30 million tonnes of soybean meal in 2024. Despite China’s 2019 approval, no significant bulk purchases had occurred until this deal, with Chinese customs data showing only 30,000 tonnes imported in 2024, mostly from Denmark. Idígoras highlighted: “Last year, Argentina exported 30 million tons of soybean meal, so it has a very significant supply capacity for China’s needs.”

This initial shipment reflects China’s strategy to diversify its animal feed supply chain while leveraging Argentina’s robust export capacity. The trial could pave the way for expanded trade, supporting China’s feed industry and Argentina’s agricultural export market, while fostering economic collaboration between the two nations.