March 11, 2005

China Jan-Feb soybean imports down 12.2 percent

China's imports of soybeans fell 12.2 percent to 3.35 million tonnes in the first two months of 2005, the customs department said Thursday.

Earlier customs data show China imported 1.86 million tonnes of soybeans in January, down 6.1 percent, indicating soybean imports in February were around 1.49 million tonnes.

In the months of Jan. and Feb., imports of edible oils totalled 850,000 tonnes, up 19.1 percent on year, while iron ore imports totalled 39.02 million tonnes, up 23.7 percent, the customs department said in a statement posted on its Web site.