China: Grain imports almost double in 2021

China has been importing regularly close to 100 mln tonnes of soybeans annually. In 2021 too, grain imports rose to 65 mln tonnes from 35 mln tonnes in 2020. 28.3 mln tonnes of corn were the largest single volume, followed by 12.5 mln tonnes of barley, H. M. Gauger GmbH said in their April report.

In July/March 21/22, the four large barley suppliers (Argentina, Canada, France, Ukraine) shipped 8.8 mln tonnes of barley to China, of which Ukraine 2.6 mln tonnes. In the same period corn imports from Ukraine were 5.2 mln tonnes.

In present world market conditions it will not be easy to purchase an additional 8.0 mln tonnes from other origins. Worst of all, China will face an increasing lack of malting supplies; the country needs 3.0 – 3.5 mln tonnes of maltable barley, the analysts said.

The closure of Australian barley imports has been a mistake from the beginning, it makes the Chinese malt industry less and less competitive in all markets. Australian exports do not need the Chinese destinations, they are running well; there are almost no port slots available till June/July.

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