March 18, 2004

China Imported About 550,000 MT Soyoil In January-February

China imported about 550,000 metric tons of soyoil in January and February, more than three and half times what it imported in the same period in 2003, the China Securities newspaper reported Wednesday, citing data from China's General Administration of Customs.
 
In January-February 2003 soyoil imports were 120,046 tons, official customs data shows.
 
In February, China's soyoil import was around 270,000 tons, roughly equal to January's imports of 273,698 tons, but sharply higher from the import of 21,149 tons in February 2003.
 
In the first two months of 2004, China exported 1,804 tons of soyoil, 23.8% lower last year, said the report.
 
The official customs data is usually released on the 20th day of each month, but government agencies and state-owned media sometimes have access to the data earlier than that. China Securities is a subsidiary of the official Xinhua News Agency.
 
China imported 1,884,356 tons of soyoil in 2003 calendar year, up 117% from import in 2002, according to official customs data.