China makes it easier to import soybean through northern border

Changes to customs regulations could smooth the way for shipments from neighbours such as Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine

Beijing has been looking to diversify sources amid trade frictions with the US

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China has been looking to diversify soybean imports. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:19pm, 2 Jan 2020Updated: 8:53pm, 17 Feb 2020

China has eased customs regulations on imports of soybean through some northern border checkpoints, the commerce ministry said, a move that could smooth the way for shipments from neighbours such as Kazakhstan, Russia and perhaps Ukraine.

The changes come as China looks to diversify soybean imports amid trade tension with the United States, its second largest supplier of the oilseed, and could facilitate trade with the neighbouring countries, traders said.

Soybean importers could use one import licence to clear cargoes up to six times, if the shipments went through some checkpoints in Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, the ministry said in a statement dated December 31 and released on its website on Thursday.

“I think this policy aims to facilitate soybean trade with Russia,” said an industry source based in China’s northeastern region, who sought anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to media.

“But the volume [Russian shipments] is too small.”

One of the checkpoints, Alataw Pass, is on the border with central Asian neighbour Kazakhstan, while the other five border Russia. These are Heihe, Suifenhe, Fuyuan and Tongjiang in Heilongjiang, and Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia.