Chinese private crushers buy Australian canola for the first time since 2020

A private Chinese crusher has purchased 68 thsd tons of new-crop Australian canola for March shipment. According to traders, the deal was concluded at around $730/t C&F.

This is one of the first known purchases of Australian canola by private Chinese companies since 2020, when trade was effectively halted due to phytosanitary restrictions.

Another cargo of old-crop Australian canola, purchased by a different private crusher, already arrived in China in September. Australia’s new canola harvest will begin in October and continue through December.

Beijing began gradually reopening trade in Australian canola around mid-2025, initially through trial purchases by state-owned trader COFCO. Access for private crushers was expanded in July 2026.

China remains the world’s largest canola importer, while Canada is the largest exporter and Australia ranks second. The return of private Chinese buyers could intensify competition among suppliers in the Chinese market.

Tags: Australia, China, canola, imports