Imports of canola oil and meal would be more costly and impact its seed-crushing industry. China could import canola seeds from Ukraine and Russia, but they ship less than Australia and most Ukrainian shipments are sent to the EU, whose import demand rivals China.
What is canola oil?
Canola oil is a food-grade version derived from rapeseed cultivars specifically bred for low acid content.
Where is canola grown?
Canola, known in Europe as rapeseed, is widely grown in Canada, Europe and Australia, where its distinctive flowers turn fields into carpets of yellow. It is crushed to produce cooking oil and other products, including renewable fuels, and meal for animal feed.
How is canola oil extracted?
Almost all commercial canola oil is then extracted using hexane solvent, which is recovered at the end of processing. Finally, the canola oil is refined using water precipitation and organic acid to remove gums and free fatty acids, filtering to remove color, and deodorizing using steam distillation.