China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, known as COFCO and the country's largest food trader, has agreed to purchase 51 percent of Rotterdam-based grain trader Nidera BV for an undisclosed sum to further expand China's grain supply channel in South America.

Nidera, with an annual turnover of more than $17 billion, is a major player in South America's agribusiness and crop technology sectors. It has built a global presence in more than 20 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the United Kingdom and Italy. It employs 3,800 people globally in agricultural, commercial and industrial operations.

The proposed transaction will provide Nidera with great potential for growth in the China market and also strengthen COFCO's position as a key player in the global agricultural industry through access to Nidera's global origination, trading network and its fast-growing seed business.