Farmers dry corn in Nanguanbei village, East China's Shandong Province, on October 23, 2023. Photo: VCG
Argentine corn has reportedly gained export clearance for the China market, which will contribute to bilateral trade growth, Chinese experts said on Wednesday, adding that increased trade in agricultural commodities will be conducive to the development of bilateral ties.
On Tuesday (local time), Argentina's government said that China had authorized for import two varieties of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified corn grown in the country, Reuters reported.
Shipments of corn for animal feed could start as early as July, according to the report.
The clearance could see corn trade between China and Argentina, the world's No.3 corn supplier, resume after a multi-year hiatus, according to the report.
Jiang Shixue, a professor at the Center for Latin American Studies at Shanghai University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that increments in trade will contribute to the development of bilateral ties based on mutual respect and benefits.
"Exporting more goods to China and generating additional revenue streams will also boost the economy of Argentina, which is currently facing difficulties," Jiang said.
In an exclusive interview with the Global Times at the end of April, Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said that there is potential for China and Argentina to further strengthen cooperation in agriculture, as well as in the mining of minerals such as lithium and in the energy sector.
More diversified supplies will enhance China's food security and help keep prices of corn stable in the domestic market, industry insiders noted.
However, they also said that increased imports from Argentina will cause no fluctuations in the supply/demand dynamics in the corn trade in China.
In 2023, China imported more than 27 million tons of corn, up 31.6 percent year-on-year. Of the total, 47 percent came from Brazil, with the US in second place, customs data showed.
Imported Brazilian corn is unloaded at a port in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu Province on January 22, 2024. Photo: VCG
In 2023, Argentina was not among China's top suppliers of corn.
An industry insider surnamed Gao told the Global Times on Wednesday that judging from the balance sheet of Argentina's corn trade in the past few years, it seems there isn't much of a surplus that the South American country can export to China.
A report published by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in May estimated that China's net imports of corn may reach 25.64 million tons in 2024.
In the first four months, China's trade with Argentina dropped by 34.7 percent year-on-year to $3.97 billion, customs data showed on May 18.
据报道，阿根廷玉米已获得对中国市场的出口许可，这将有助于双边贸易增长，并补充说，增加农产品贸易将有利于双边关系的发展。
据路透社报道，阿根廷政府周二（当地时间）表示，中国已批准进口该国种植的两种耐除草剂转基因玉米。 据用于动物饲料的玉米最早可能在7月开始发货，此次清关可能使中国和全球第三大玉米供应国阿根廷之间的玉米贸易在中断多年后恢复。上海大学拉丁美洲研究中心教授蒋世学周三对《环球时报》表示，贸易增长将有助于在相互尊重和互利的基础上发展双边关系。
“向中国出口更多商品并创造更多收入来源也将提振目前面临困难的阿根廷经济，”蒋世学说。阿根廷外交部长戴安娜·蒙迪诺 4 月底接受《环球时报》专访时表示，中国和阿根廷有潜力进一步加强农业、锂等矿产开采和能源领域的合作。业内人士指出，更加多样化的供应将增强中国的粮食安全，并有助于保持国内市场玉米价格稳定。不过，他们也表示，从阿根廷进口增加不会导致中国玉米贸易供需动态波动。
2023 年，中国进口玉米超过 2700 万吨，同比增长 31.6%。海关数据显示，其中 47% 来自巴西，美国位居第二。 2023年，阿根廷并不是中国最大的玉米供应国之一。一位高姓业内人士周三对《环球时报》表示，从过去几年阿根廷玉米贸易的平衡表来看，这个南美国家似乎没有太多的盈余可以出口到中国。中国农业科学院5月份发布的一份报告估计，2024年中国玉米净进口量可能达到2564万吨。海关5月18日的数据显示，今年前4个月，中国与阿根廷的贸易额同比下降34.7%，至39.7亿美元。
