Grains & oilseeds
- Grains - Corn, wheat, barley and sorghum (in raw form) provide the basis of animal feed. They are also used to make cooking oils, fuels, cosmetics and alcohols.
- Oilseeds - Sunflower (seeds, meal, oil), rapeseed (seeds, meal, oil), soybean (bean, meal, oil, biodiesel) and palm oil can be used as ingredients for many products, particularly animal feed and edible oils.
There is a rising demand for grains due to the growing population, dietary shifts and expanding livestock industries. Oilseed production is also due to increase, with demand for vegetable oil expected to reach 33m tonnes by 2030.
“COFCO International sources from four origination areas – US, Brazil, South Cone and the Black Sea – and supplies three key regions – China and South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East.”
Some 65% of our grains and oilseeds assets based in South America – the world’s largest exporting region. We source directly from farmers, leveraging our long-term relationships and extensive warehouses in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
We have barge-loading facilities in Paraguay and exporting facilities at major ports in Rosario in Argentina and Santos in Brazil, where we have significantly expanded our port terminal.
In the Black Sea region, we source, store, process and export wheat, corn, barley and oilseeds from Ukraine. Our main European distribution operations are in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Our Middle Eastern warehousing and distribution operations are in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to our crushing plant in Standerton, we operate a 30,000-hectare contract farming operation in South Africa, working with farmers to provide soybeans to a local processing facility, and corn to domestic customers.
In Australia, COFCO International sources and exports wheat, barley and oilseeds.
To learn more about our presence and value chain for soy and palm oil, please see soybean and palm oil.
Soybean
Containing 12 times more protein than milk, soybeans are primarily grown for animal feed, delivering an efficient source of protein. They are also processed into soybean oil and biodiesel.
Palm oil
The versatility of palm oil ensures its popularity as an ingredient in multiple food, cosmetics, hygiene and cleaning products. It can also be used to make biodiesel.
Castor Oil
COFCO International offers a comprehensive range of castor oil products, supplying industries that rely on this versatile oil for its distinct chemical properties.
Castor oil, derived from castor beans grown primarily in India, is an important component in high performance lubricants for high speed trains, airplanes, and tunnel boring machines. It also plays a fundamental role in manufacturing PVC additives, adhesives, coatings, cosmetics and emulsifiers for the chocolate industry.
We help smallholder farmers to gain access to global markets, helping to improve livelihoods while promoting a stable and sustainable supply chain.
As a member of the Sustainable Castor Association, we are committed to adopting responsible production practices that help to protect the environment and support local communities.
With growing global demand and expanding production in emerging regions such as Brazil and Mexico, COFCO International remains at the forefront of innovation and sustainability in the castor oil industry.
