China expands feed meal imports from the Black Sea region

China has stepped up imports of feed meals from Black Sea countries — Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan — amid global market shifts and a strategic push to secure stable supplies of protein feed ingredients. According to customs statistics, import volumes increased significantly in 2025 as Beijing intensified efforts to diversify supply sources for its vast livestock sector.

Shipments from Russia reached 657,000 tonnes of vegetable oilcakes and meals in January–August 2025, marking a 130% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. In value terms, exports exceeded $203 million, more than doubling year-on-year. By the end of the year, Russia ranked as the third-largest supplier of these products to the Chinese market. Imported meal is primarily used in feed production for pigs, poultry, and cattle.

Ukraine has also strengthened its position in the Asian market. In the first half of the MY 2025/26, rapeseed meal exports rose by 70% to 340,000 tonnes. China became the largest buyer of Ukrainian rapeseed meal, importing 155,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union declined, a shift analysts attribute to changing trade flows and stronger Chinese demand.

Analysts emphasize that amid modernization of China’s animal protein production, stable supplies of high-protein ingredients — including rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean meal — have become strategically important. With strong export capacity and well-developed oilseed processing industries, Black Sea countries are steadily strengthening their role as key partners for China in the feed raw materials segment.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, China, sunflower meal, rapeseed meal