China has not banned soyoil imports from Argentina

China has not prohibited soyoil imports from Argentina, and the country is still reviewing permit application for soyoil imports, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

 

A spokesman with the MOC noted that the only change is that the department in charge of permit examination for soyoil imports has been shifted from local branches of MOC to the Quota & License Administrative Bureau under the MOC. However, the normal trade will not be affected by such change.

 

He said that the above policy adjustment is aimed to strengthen supervision.

 

China was Argentina's biggest soyoil importer in 2009. The Argentina Ministry of Agriculture predicted that the country's soy production would hit a new high of 55 million tonnes in the crop year of 2009-10, with one fifth to be processed into soyoil and be exported to China.