Canada Seeks to Expand Oat Exports to China Amid Rising Imports

In 2025, oat imports to China reached 718,000 tons, which is 3.6 times higher than the figure from 2020. This trend creates significant opportunities for Canadian producers who view China as one of the key potential markets for their products.

This is reported by AgroReview

Phytosanitary Barriers and Diplomatic Challenges

Canada remains one of the leading global exporters of oats, while China ranks second among the largest importers of this crop. However, as noted by the analytical company OatInformation.com, nearly all of the volume (98.7%) of oats imported by China comes from Russia and Australia. Canada’s share in this market remains minimal due to the lack of a phytosanitary protocol that would allow the supply of unprocessed oats to China.

“We can supply processed oats and seed oats, but we cannot export raw oats,” said Shauna Mattison, Executive Director of the Prairie Oat Producers Association.

She emphasized that Chinese importers are specifically interested in raw oats, which they can process at their own facilities. However, the issue of allowing Canadian unprocessed oats into the Chinese market remains unresolved due to unarticulated concerns from Chinese officials. Tense diplomatic relations between the countries, which arose after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada, have significantly complicated negotiations from 2019 to 2025.

Trade Agreements and Prospects for Canadian Exporters

In January 2026, following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing, Canada and China signed a strategic trade agreement covering energy, canola, green energy, and electric vehicles. Oats have not yet made it onto the list of priority areas, but representatives of the Canadian agricultural community are working to promote this issue.

Shauna Mattison reached out to the Canadian consulate in China to raise the issue of oat exports during negotiations. She received confirmation that efforts to expand access for Canadian oats to the Chinese market will continue.

According to OatInformation.com, in 2020, China imported about 200,000 tons of oats, and by 2025, this figure had risen to 718,000 tons. Analysts predict further growth in imports to 960,000 tons by 2030, even despite a possible slowdown in growth rates.

If such forecasts materialize, China could gradually approach the U.S. in oat import volumes and strengthen its influence in the global market for this crop. Demand is rising due to increased interest from Chinese consumers in products with high nutritional value and health benefits.

The Prairie Oat Producers Association considers opening the Chinese market a strategic objective and plans to continue collaborating with the federal government to address phytosanitary issues. “The market potential is enormous. We certainly hope to make some progress,” concluded Mattison.