China's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will significantly boost its imports of maize, wheat and soybeans in crop year 2001/02, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Chinese flour mills will now purchase an estimated 1.5million tonnes of wheat in 2001/02. This is significantly higher than the previous USDA forecast of 1 mt and five times the 300 000 tonnes bought last crop year. Beijing should also boost its imports of maize in 2001/02 to 1 million tonnes. In November,USDA forecast these imports at just 200 000 tonnes. Soybean oil purchases will also climb. China is now expected to purchase 400 000 tonnes of soybean oil on the global market in 2001/02, double the amount previously forecast. Last crop year China imported just 80 000t of soybean oil.
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