May 25, 2004

Brazil Says China Won't Impose Curbs On Its Soybean Shipments

Brazil, the world's second-largest soybean producer, does not expect China to impose further restrictions on soybean shipments after some Brazilian imports were found to be laced with herbicides.

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues said today he told Li Changjiang, China's quarantine minister, that Brazil will impose stricter inspections of its soybean exports.

China this month refused to allow two ships from Brazil to unload beans after discovering they were uncertified and mixed with seeds laced with herbicides. Two other ships that left Brazil without proper certification turned back, Rodrigues said yesterday.

"We have explained that these were isolated cases and we are taking measures to prevent this from happening again," Rodrigues said in an interview today before giving a speech at a business conference in Beijing. "They hope this will solve the problem."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, accompanied by 400 farmers and executives, is visiting China to promote trade after Brazilian exports to China jumped 80 percent last year. Soybeans accounted for 29 percent of the $4.1 billion in sales.

China, the world's largest soybean importer, has blocked shipments of Brazilian soybeans by four companies including Cargill Inc., Rodrigues said. He did not say how long the ban will last.

Brazilian farmers last year planted enough new soybeans to cover an area the size of Israel to meet orders from China.