China will maintain its policy of “moderate imports” of grain and oilseeds

China intends to continue to rely primarily on domestic production of grain and oilseeds. This strategy remains a key pillar of the state’s agricultural policy, which includes support for farmers and processing enterprises, as well as the active implementation of scientific research and modern technologies.

This was stated by Lu Qiang, Senior Analyst at COFCO Futures, at the Chinese Grains & Oils Congress 2026 international conference, held on March 5 in Shanghai.

According to the expert, despite unfavorable weather conditions in recent seasons, China has maintained high yields for many years. In 2025, per capita grain production in the country reached 508.9 kg, significantly exceeding the international benchmark of 400 kg.

Chinese officials also note that the supply of grain and key agricultural commodities remains high: the domestic market is stable, and government reserves are sufficient.

At the same time, agricultural production and consumption are in close balance. The share of grain consumption for food is gradually declining, while demand from the feed industry continues to grow. Overall grain consumption in the country is expected to increase in the future.

Aside from feed crops, soybean imports remain a key factor.

According to Lu Qiang, soybean meal is a key product for China, used to meet the meat production needs of the country’s approximately 1.4 billion people. Vegetable oil, however, is essentially a byproduct of this processing.

The analyst noted that vegetable oil imports play a supporting role and are largely determined by pricing conditions and product quality requirements.

Tags: China, grain, oilseeds, imports