China approves Ethiopian soybean meal imports to diversify supplies

China has approved imports of soybean meal from Ethiopia as part of efforts to expand protein sources amid the trade war between Beijing and Washington, Reuters reported, citing a statement from Chinese customs.

The country will be allowed to import Ethiopian soybean meal that meets China’s phytosanitary standards and is free of pests from July 3, the statement said.

The approval comes after Chinese feed makers secured their first shipment of soybean meal from Argentina since approving imports in 2019 in an effort to ease potential disruptions from the US-China trade war. In June, China also approved imports of soybean meal from Uruguay, joining a growing list that includes Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Belarus.

China primarily imports soybeans from Brazil and the US for processing into soybean meal domestically, with limited direct imports of soybean meal.

Tags: China, soybean meal, Ethiopia