April 13, 2004

China Imported 5.41 Million MT Soybeans In First Quarter 2004
 
China imported 5.41 million metric tons of soybeans in the first quarter of 2004, up 39.2% from the first quarter of 2003, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.
 
The report didn't provide a breakdown of imports in March alone.
 
According to official customs figures released earlier, China had imported 3.82 million tons of soybeans in January and February together, up 88.7% from imports in the first two months of 2003.
 
China also imported 1.63 million tons of edible oil in the first quarter of 2004, more than double the volume in the first quarter of 2003, Xinhua said.
 
During January-February, China imported 1.05 million tons of edible oils, a rise of 123% from imports in the first two months of 2003, according to official customs figures.
 
Official customs figures for March will be released by China General Administration of Customs around April 20, but government agencies and official media such as Xinhua usually get the figures ahead of the official release, traders said.