COFCO International has loaded the first-ever bulk commercial shipment of Argentine wheat bound for China, formally opening a new trade flow between the two countries. The move signals a strategic shift in China’s wheat sourcing and strengthens South America’s role in Asian grain supply.

COFCO International is loading its first commercial wheat cargo from Argentina to China, marking a milestone in bilateral agricultural trade. The shipment, totaling around 65,000 tons, was handled at the company’s Timbúes port terminal on the Paraná River and is destined for China’s milling industry. The operation reflects the completion of regulatory and phytosanitary approvals that now allow Argentine wheat to enter the Chinese market on a commercial scale.

The loading ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Wei Wang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Argentina, and Maximiliano Pullaro, Governor of Santa Fe Province, alongside COFCO executives such as CEO Wei Dong and Sun Bao, Chairman of COFCO Trading. Their presence underlined the strategic importance attached to the shipment by both governments and industry.

COFCO International is one of Argentina’s largest agro-industrial exporters, with extensive operations covering grain origination, processing and port logistics. Its Timbúes complex alone handles more than 5 million tons of grains and oilseeds annually.

China traditionally sources wheat mainly from Australia, Canada and the United States, while Argentina has focused on Latin American and regional markets. Opening access to China diversifies Argentina’s export destinations and could gradually reshape global wheat trade flows, with potential knock-on effects for feed grain availability and pricing.