Chinese oilseed crushers have reached out to Australian exporters, signalling recently fresh demand for canola shipments as negotiations on a prospective trade pact advance. The inquiries arrive after a years‑long suspension of Australian supplies to China, a freeze that significantly has constrained the Asian market for a key vegetable oil feedstock. Traders see the outreach as a test of market sentiment.

If the pact lifts the embargo, Chinese crushers could secure multi‑million‑ton contracts, reshaping global canola flows. Australian growers, who have redirected output to Europe and South America during the freeze, stand to regain a lucrative outlet that once accounted for a sizable share of their export basket. Market analysts caution that pricing will hinge on the final terms of any agreement.

Shipping firms in Melbourne report that vessels are being pre‑positioned, ready to load once customs clearance is granted. The move puts pressure on rival suppliers such as Canada, whose market share could slip if China redirects purchases southward. Deal closure could revive Australian canola revenues within the next shipping season, confirming the commodity’s strategic importance to both economies.