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A private Chinese crusher has purchased 68,000 tonnes of new-crop Australian canola for March shipment, marking one of the first known transactions by private Chinese buyers since 2020. According to traders, the deal was concluded at approximately $730 per tonne on a C&F basis.
The purchase signals a notable shift in bilateral trade flows. Trade in Australian canola had been effectively halted since 2020 due to phytosanitary restrictions imposed by Beijing. While another cargo of old-crop Australian canola, acquired by a different private crusher, had already arrived in China in September, this latest deal underscores the renewed engagement of private Chinese buyers in the Australian market.
Australia's new canola harvest is set to begin in October and run through December. Beijing began gradually reopening trade in Australian canola around mid-2025, initially through trial purchases by the state-owned trader COFCO. Access for private crushers was subsequently expanded in July 2026, paving the way for the latest transaction.
China remains the world's largest canola importer, while Canada is the largest exporter and Australia ranks second. The return of private Chinese buyers to the Australian market is expected to intensify competition among suppliers competing for share in the world's top import market.
Source: UkrAgroConsult