Article content

Chinese importers have halted purchases of canola just weeks before planting season for the crop begins, creating “huge” uncertainty for Western Canadian farmers, industry groups say.

Citing reports from Canadian seed exporters, the Canola Council of Canada said Chinese importers have stopped all new purchases of the crop.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'Huge uncertainty' for Canadian farmers: China stops buying canola just weeks before planting begins Back to video

The development comes just weeks after China — Canada’s largest export market for canola — blocked shipments of the crop from Winnipeg-based Richardson International over concerns about “prohibited pests.” The company and government officials have insisted the shipments met quality standards.

Though Richardson had its authorization to export canola to China revoked, no other Canadian firms have received the same treatment, Canola Council president Jim Everson in an interview.

“This doesn’t seem to be related to an official decision as far as we can tell,” Everson said. “It’s just that canola importers in China now seem to be very reluctant to buy Canadian canola.”