China, the top pork-consuming nation, is considering allowing the imports of soybean meal from Brazil to diversify sources of the key ingredients for hog feed, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Chinese officials have recently visited crushing mills in Brazil as part of investigation activities organized by Abiove, a soybean processor, according to people familiar with the talks, who declined to be named as they were not made public and at an early stage. Faxed requests for comment to China Customs have not been replied, and Abiove declined to comment.

Allowing the imports of Brazilian soybean meal would follow an agreement with Argentina earlier this month. China has huge soybean crushing capacity and generally prefers to import soybeans and crush them at home, but with a protracted trade war with the United States, Beijing is seeking for other sources of supply.