COFCO International Delivers First Responsible Standard Soy Shipment to Thailand

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COFCO International has successfully shipped its first consignment of soybeans certified under the COFCO International Responsible Agriculture Standard to Thailand, marking a key milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable sourcing and deforestation-free supply chains.

The shipment, destined for Thanakorn Vegetable Oil Products Co., Ltd.—a leading Thai producer of vegetable oil and animal feed—was loaded this week at the port of Santos in Brazil. The cargo is certified under Module 2 of COFCO’s Responsible Agriculture Standard, which verifies that the soybeans are deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) since 31 December 2020. The standard also mandates stringent on-farm audits covering sustainable water management, biodiversity conservation, and ethical labour practices.

COFCO International employs the mass balance chain of custody model for certified soybeans, a system that enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs while maintaining traceability and compliance with sustainability criteria.

The COFCO Responsible Agriculture Standard has gained broad industry recognition. It is aligned with the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) Soy Sourcing Guidelines, and is endorsed by the Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action. Additionally, the standard was recently included in Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) Good Agricultural Practices Programme, which provides financial incentives to certified farmers.

This latest shipment to Thailand builds upon COFCO’s prior exports of certified soy from Brazil and Argentina to various international markets. It demonstrates the company’s active role in accelerating the transition toward sustainable agricultural supply chains.

“Building deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains is central to COFCO International’s climate strategy,” said a spokesperson from COFCO. “We are committed to achieving deforestation-free soy and corn supply chains globally—and conversion-free supply chains in South America—by the end of 2025, in alignment with our Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated climate targets.”

With global supply chains under increasing scrutiny, COFCO’s latest action underscores the company’s leadership in responsible sourcing and its contribution to global environmental and social sustainability goals.