Canola exports to China down but not at zero

China's tariffs on Canadian canola seed, oil, and meal, have had a ripple effect on exports, according to numbers from Statistics Canada on the Canola Council of Canada website.

Numbers showing exports for the calendar year of 2025 and up to the month of July indicate shipments of the three canola products are significantly lower following the initial tariffs in March.

Canada exported 180,184 metric tonnes of canola seed to China in July, lower than June's 237,897 metric tonnes and lower than the peaks of March (411,757 tonnes) and April (468,929 tonnes).

For canola meal, 30,000 tonnes was sent to China in July, slightly lower compared to June's 32,506 tonnes and much lower than 195,556 tonnes in March. The peak for canola meal shipments this year was in January with 211,386 tonnes.

Canola oil exports in July were only 27 metric tonnes and there were two months - June and March - where no canola oil was exported. February had the highest number of canola oil exported at 69,769 tonnes.

The tariffs have also caused a ripple effect down the supply chain from those who ship the product, to companies, to farmers.

CEO of Bunge Canada Kyle Jeworski says a market like China is impossible to replace no matter how diverse a trade portfolio is.

"It's a place that we just can't replace with the other remaining markets either domestically or abroad," said Jeworski. "It does have a major effect on our farmers.