Kansas-Henan partnership leads to inaugural direct soybean shipment

Soybeans add new landing zone for exports

After celebrating a 40-year Sister-State relationship with China’ Henan Province in September, a shipment of soybeans left the DeLong Company bound for Henan Shennong Extruded Feed Technology Co. The 500-metric-ton shipment is the first-ever containerized grain shipment direct to China from Kansas.

Kansas Soybean Commission Chairman Bob Haselwood and KSC Administrator Kaleb Little attended the Dec. 14 virtual celebration of the shipment.

“Direct shipments allow us to showcase the quality of Kansas soybeans,” Haselwood says. “While it may not make a big difference in the market overall, it brings value to the relationship.”

Other notable attendees of the virtual event included Kansas Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, DeLong’s Senior Export Director Brandon Bickham and officials from Henan.

Much like Kansas, Henan is geographically central and is largely an agricultural region. The similarities launched a valuable partnership signed onto paper in May 1989 by then-Governors John Carlin and Liu Jie. Negotiations to begin direct shipments began in 2021 and resulted in the partnership between DeLong and Shennong Extruded Feed Technology Co. Future direct shipments are expected.

Bickham said in the event news release, “A direct contract like this helps better understand our customer’s specific needs. We are confident that it also bodes well for our new business relationship with Shennong.”

International market development and building preference for U.S. soy are priorities of the national and state soybean checkoffs. Successes such as the Henan partnership bolster U.S. soy’s reputation as a quality product and add to farmers’ return on investment.