China-Argentina wheat trade opens with first commercial shipment by COFCO
The launch of Argentine wheat exports to China reflects a high level of mutual trust and signals the growing maturity of economic and diplomatic relations.
CHINA – China marked a significant step in diversifying its grain supply chain on February 10 with the arrival of its first market-oriented purchase of wheat from Argentina, totaling 70,000 tonnes.
The shipment, imported by COFCO International, departed from the company’s Timbúes port complex in Argentina and arrived in China after nearly two months at sea, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to broaden sourcing channels and strengthen food supply resilience amid global market volatility.
The wheat cargo was transported aboard the MV Shandong Fu Yi and will be distributed to domestic flour millers across China, according to COFCO.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, COFCO International is part of COFCO Fortune, the core agriculture and food business arm of China-based COFCO Group.
Globally, the company employs 12,399 people across 36 countries and reported revenues of US$38.5 billion, positioning it as a key player in shaping international grain flows.
A ceremony commemorating the milestone was held to mark the successful completion of the shipment, which industry observers view as a concrete opening of a new bilateral trade corridor between China and Argentina.
Speaking at the event, Ye Huiqing, chief financial officer of COFCO, said the import officially inaugurates a new chapter in agricultural trade between the two countries.
She noted that the shipment will not only help diversify China’s grain supply sources but also enhance the stability and resilience of the global food supply chain.
Ye added that COFCO plans to deepen cooperation with major grain-producing countries as part of its long-term strategy to secure reliable agricultural imports.
Argentina’s ambassador to China, Marcelo Suárez Salvia, welcomed the development, praising COFCO’s role in advancing bilateral agricultural cooperation.
He highlighted the strong complementarity between the two countries’ agricultural sectors, noting that Argentina’s export-oriented grain industry aligns well with China’s large and diversified demand base.
According to the ambassador, the launch of Argentine wheat exports to China reflects a high level of mutual trust and signals the growing maturity of economic and diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The ceremony was attended by senior industry and corporate leaders, including Xu Song, chief executive officer of China Merchants Port Group; representatives from Chinese flour milling companies; Jiang Zaifeng, vice president of COFCO International; and Alfonso Romero, managing director for the South Cone at COFCO International.
COFCO International plays a central role in Argentina’s agro-industrial sector, operating silos, processing plants, and port terminals that handle soybeans, corn, wheat, and related products for both domestic consumption and export markets.
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