China main importer of fat and oil products from Russia in 2025 - Agroexport

MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - China was the main buyer of fat-and-oil products, primarily vegetable oils, from Russia in 2025, the Agroexport federal center said following a business trip to Beijing by the center's head, Ilya Ilyushin.

As part of the trip, working meetings were held with representatives of Chinese business circles and government agencies.

"In 2025, China ranked fourth among the largest buyers of Russian grains and pulses and first among importers of Russian fat-and-oil products. For many domestic companies, China is a key and the most important foreign market. Among the areas where potential has not yet been realized are processed products of oilseed flax, alfalfa and feed meal," Ilyushin was quoted as saying in a press release.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, China purchased rapeseed oil worth $1.4 billion, sunflower oil worth $340.7 million and soybean oil worth $101.4 million from Russia in 2025.

From September 2025 to February 2026 (the first half of the 2025-2026 agricultural year for fat-and-oil products), China imported almost 1 million tonnes of vegetable oil from Russia, up 16% from a year earlier, according to information from Agroexport.

Discussing trade prospects with Peng Tingjun, the director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center (ATPC) of the Chinese Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, Ilyushin emphasized the interest of Russian companies in increasing supplies not only of exchange-traded types of agricultural raw materials such as grain, oil, fish and seafood, but also in activating exports of food industry products.

During negotiations with Cao Derun, the president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Food Products, Native Products and Animal By-Products, an agreement was reached to hold a joint event for business circles in 2027.

"The Chinese side traditionally shows interest in Russian agricultural products. In addition to raw items - fish, grain, meat and oils - we will continue to actively develop supplies of confectionery, grocery, alcoholic and non-alcoholic products. Today, Agroexport is moving from predominantly information and analytical support for export projects of the domestic agricultural sector to full-fledged coordination of many involved enterprises, associations and organizations. The agricultural attache in China takes direct part in this work, including assisting Agroexport in interacting with key Chinese players," Dmitry Klishin, a representative of the Russian Agriculture Ministry in China, was also quoted as saying by the press service.