Minister Zou Chuanming, from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Brazil, detailed, this Wednesday (5), at the VIII Seminar Challenges of Brazilian Leadership in the World Soybean Market, held at Embrapa Soja, in Londrina (PR), the Asian country's vision for the future of trade relations with Brazil. According to him, in 2023, Brazil exported more than 100 million tons of soybeans, of which more than 70% were destined for China. “Sino-Brazilian agricultural cooperation brings concrete benefits to both peoples,” he says. On the one hand, the minister said that the constant and stable supply of high-quality agricultural products from Brazil has contributed to meeting the growing Chinese needs. “Regardless of changes in the international scenario, China needs high-quality products that comply with the regulatory requirements of the Chinese market,” he states. In this regard, to deepen agricultural cooperation, Chuanming reinforced the need to deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas of inspection and quarantine, market access, and trade facilitation, creating a more stable, fluid, and predictable trading environment. “We also intend to boost cooperation throughout the entire production chain, expanding cooperation in investments in the areas of storage and logistics, higher value-added processing, and utilization of by-products,” he explained. Furthermore, the minister pointed out the importance of leveraging the strengths of the research institutions of both countries and especially deepening exchanges and cooperation in the areas of soybean genetic improvement, digital agriculture, biofuels, and pest and disease prevention and control.
Market overview
Túlio Cariello, Director of Content and Research at the Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC), states that between 2005 and 2023, China's share of total Brazilian exports rose from less than 6% to 28%—surpassing the sum destined for the United States and the European Union. "China was Brazil's only trading partner to exceed US$100 billion in exports in a single year, a historic milestone not only in bilateral trade but in Brazilian foreign trade in general," Cariello emphasized. Currently, almost 80% of all soybeans exported by Brazil go to China, one of the highest shares in history. “The 'China Effect' is composed of a process of accelerated urbanization and the growth of the middle class, which today amounts to about 500 million people (more than double the Brazilian population), generating a much more sophisticated demand for food,” assessed Cariello. According to the director of CEBC, by 2035, China plans to increase domestic production, raising self-sufficiency from 20% to 30%. “However, China will continue to depend largely on the external market for the supply of soybeans, and Brazil, due to its competitiveness and geopolitical position, will remain well positioned,” argued Cariello. According to him, the paths for Brazilian agribusiness in the Chinese market depend on adding value to exports and diversifying export markets, as well as investing in innovation and productive efficiency. “We also need to increase productivity without expanding the agricultural frontier, minimizing environmental impacts. And also, strengthen the traceability and sustainability of production,” he concluded.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.