ALFA TRADING LIMITED | IMPORT BILL OF LADING DATA

Import Overview — Alfa Trading Ltd.

Alfa Trading Limited, registered in China, is identified as a significant importer of crude sunflower oil from Eastern European suppliers during the May–June 2021 period. The bill of lading records presented below document 12 separate shipments of crude sunflower oil (HS code 1512119100), all dispatched between May 23 and June 28, 2021. The overwhelming majority of these shipments originate from Ukrainian suppliers, with a single consignment traced to a Russian exporter, reflecting the dominant role of Ukraine as the world's leading sunflower oil exporting nation.

Crude sunflower oil classified under HS code 1512119100 falls within the broader category of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil — crude, unrefined, and without chemical modification. This product category represents the first stage of the sunflower oil value chain, where freshly pressed or extracted oil is prepared for export to refiners and food manufacturers in destination markets. China, as one of the largest consumers of vegetable oils globally, represents a major demand center for crude sunflower oil, relying heavily on Ukrainian and Russian exports to supplement its domestic production shortfall.

Bill of Lading Records — Complete Data Table

The following table presents all verified bill of lading records for Alfa Trading Limited's crude sunflower oil imports. Each record includes the trade date, HS code, product description (in original Ukrainian customs classification language), supplier name, buyer identification, buyer country, supply country, and country of origin. Product descriptions are preserved in their original Ukrainian format as they appear on customs documentation.

Supplier Analysis

TOV TD Delta Wilmar — Dual Consignments

Delta Wilmar appears twice in the dataset, with shipments on both May 23 and June 23, 2021. Delta Wilmar is a well-known joint venture in Ukraine's agribusiness sector, combining local agricultural expertise with the global processing and distribution capabilities of Wilmar International, one of Asia's largest agribusiness groups. This dual-shipment pattern suggests an established, recurring commercial relationship between Delta Wilmar and Alfa Trading, likely governed by a medium-term supply contract. Delta Wilmar's positioning as a vertically integrated oilseed crusher and refiner allows it to offer competitive pricing on crude sunflower oil while maintaining consistent quality standards.

PRAT Vinnytsia OZhK — Regional Oil Extraction

PRAT Vinnytsia OZhK (Vinnytsia Oil and Fat Plant) also recorded two separate shipments on May 23, 2021, indicating a significant single-day dispatch or a split consignment from the same producer. The Vinnytsia OZhK plant is a traditional oilseed processing facility located in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine, an area known for its substantial sunflower cultivation. The appearance of two Vinnytsia-based suppliers (the other being TOV SHK Vinnytsia Industrial Group) in this dataset underscores the regional concentration of sunflower oil production around central Ukrainian oblasts.

Kompaniya Prometheus — Russian-Origin Consignment

The sole Russian-origin shipment was supplied by Kompaniya Prometheus on May 23, 2021. While the supply country is listed as Russia, the country of origin remains Ukraine, suggesting that the sunflower seeds may have been Ukrainian-grown but processed or transshipped through Russian facilities. Russia is the world's second-largest sunflower oil producer after Ukraine, and cross-border trade between the two countries in agricultural commodities was common prior to the 2022 conflict. This shipment represents a notable exception in the dataset's overwhelmingly Ukraine-centric sourcing pattern.

Additional Ukrainian Suppliers

The remaining seven suppliers — TOV Epicenter K, TOV SHK Vinnytsia Industrial Group, TOV Oksamyt Smaku, TOV Agroalliance, TOV Trading Company Fabrik, TOV Agroholding 2012, and TOV Interagroinvest — collectively represent the diversified nature of Ukraine's sunflower oil export sector. These companies range from large agricultural holdings (Agroalliance, Agroholding 2012) to specialized trading firms and regional processors. The concentration of shipment dates around May 23–28, 2021 suggests a coordinated procurement effort by Alfa Trading, possibly aligned with favorable pricing conditions or seasonal harvest availability in Ukraine.

Ukraine–China Sunflower Oil Trade Corridor

The Ukraine–China crude sunflower oil trade corridor represents one of the most significant agricultural commodity flow routes in the Black Sea–East Asia logistics network. Ukraine accounts for approximately 50-55% of global sunflower oil exports, with China consistently ranking among the top three destination markets. The logistical route typically involves inland transportation of crude oil from Ukrainian processing plants to Black Sea ports — primarily Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi — followed by maritime shipment via the Bosphorus Strait, Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, and across the Indian Ocean to Chinese ports such as Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Dalian.

The HS code 1512119100 classification specifically identifies crude (unrefined) sunflower oil, which requires further processing at destination refineries before reaching end consumers. Chinese importers like Alfa Trading typically source crude oil due to its lower unit price compared to refined oil, with refining operations conducted at domestic Chinese facilities that are better positioned to meet local food safety standards (GB standards) and packaging requirements. This import model allows Chinese companies to capture additional value in the supply chain while maintaining control over product quality and food safety compliance.

HS Code 1512119100 — Regulatory Framework

HS code 1512119100 is classified under Chapter 15 of the Harmonized System (Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and Their Cleavage Products), specifically under heading 15.12 which covers sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and their fractions. The subheading 1512.11 denotes crude (unrefined) oils without chemical modification. Importers of this product into China must comply with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) regulations, including obtaining an import license for edible oils, providing a phytosanitary certificate, and meeting the mandatory GB 2716-2018 national food safety standard for vegetable oils.

Additional documentation requirements include the certificate of origin, bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and in many cases, a GMO-free declaration since sunflower is not a genetically modified crop in Ukraine. The crude sunflower oil must also comply with maximum limits for acid value, peroxide value, moisture, and impurities as specified by Chinese import quality inspection authorities. Importers are advised to engage pre-shipment inspection agencies to ensure compliance before cargo loading at origin ports.

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