Chinese feed makers have jointly purchased 30,000 metric tons of Argentine soymeal, their first bulk deal since Beijing approved imports six years ago. The move signals cautious diversification amid lingering U.S. trade tensions.

A group of Chinese feed companies purchased Argentine soymeal at $360 per ton (CNF), with loading scheduled for July, according to Reuters' four trade sources. The shipment is expected to arrive in Guangdong by September. This deal marks the first bulk purchase since China opened its soymeal market to Argentina meal in 2019 following U.S.-China trade wars during the Trump administration

“This is just a test case,” said a Singapore-based trader at a firm supplying soybeans to China. “If it clears customs inspections, more deals could follow.”

China, the world’s top soymeal consumer, typically crushes imported soybeans (chiefly from Brazil and the U.S.) domestically. But Argentine meal’s current price advantage over Chinese domestic product has spurred interest. Argentina, the globe’s largest soymeal exporter, ships over 30 million tons annually—yet China imported just 30,000 tons total in 2024, mostly from Denmark, customs data shows.

The purchase reflects ongoing trade war risks. Beijing’s high tariffs on U.S. soybeans have pushed Chinese buyers toward Brazilian supplies, and Argentine meal now offers a backup option. Market watchers see this deal as a contingency step—one that may grow if U.S. trade tensions persist.