N.C. Soybean Association directors Michael McPherson and Reggie Strickland, association member Brett Medlin, CEO Charles Hall and representatives from M-B Grain, participated in the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services trade mission to China from Apr. 10-18. The mission was productive, with some significant relationships developed with grain buyers there, and many potential opportunities generated to sell them North Carolina soybeans in the future.
The trip began in Beijing with a meeting with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, as well as a business reception with N.C. delegation members and Chinese industry representatives. The soybean team visited the cities of Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The team also met with the Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on requirements for entry for soybean imports into Guangdong Province.
The Chinese customers said they prefer clean beans with low foreign matter percentages. This is promising information because beans that originate in N.C. have low foreign matter and do not have to be handled or blended much between the farm and the end user.
