China is a leading global hemp producer, with significant processing assets for a range of hemp commodities.  Textiles made from hemp fiber – whether traditionally woven bast fiber or viscose – nearly exclusively originate in China, as they have for decades.  More recently China has pivoted to hempseed production for export.  Astute market watching enabled them to capture markets in nearby Korea that were then being served by Canadian exporters.  

Aside from freight advantages, China’s hempseed prices are competitive. We cannot accurately track pricing, aside from what we infer from export figures seen in the chart below.  Korea’s import of nearly 100 million Kg of Chinese hempseed reflects pricing in the $.90 cents range, much higher than the Northern Plains midpoint pricing of $.55 cents USD for conventionally grown hempseed.  Chinese hempseed exports are likely a combination of higher value shelled hemp hearts, and…