According to General Administration of Customs, China imported 250,000 tonnes of rapeseed in March 2018, generally decreasing by 31.1% as opposed to February’s, and by 15.5% as opposed to the same period of last year. So far, imports of rapeseed in the first three months amounted to 985,400 tonnes in year 2018, down 21.13% year on year and total imports in the first ten months of year 2017/18 were around 3,632,100 tonnes, up 17.77% from year 2016/17. As a matter of fact, a significant improvement of rapeseed imports was seen during the crop year, which came after the resolved trade conflict in 2016 between China and Canada about different requirements for rapeseed impurities. 

    Though a pronounced decline of rapeseed imports was seen in March when compared to either the prior month or the same month a year ago, and total imports even plunged to a low level into year 2018, overall lucrative crush margins at home and lingering nerves of US-China trade tension would help boost its imports later.

II. Import of rapeseed meal

    According to customs data, China imported 108,700 tonnes of rapeseed meal at ports in March, substantially rising by 70.6% as opposed to 63,700 tonnes last month, and up 85.5% year on year. So far, imports of rapeseed meal in the first three months had totaled 297,000 tonnes in year 2018, a rise of 45.6% from 204,000 tonnes in the same period of year 2017. 

III. Import of rapeseed oil

    According to customs data, March imports of rapeseed oil totaled 52,500 tonnes, basically down 45.3% from February’s 95,900 tonnes. So far, imports in the first three months of year 2018 added up to 198,000 tonnes, down 20.5% from 249,000 tonnes on an year-on-year basis.