China recently started importing grains from Ukraine, with the first shipment of 50,000 metric tons of corn and wheat en route, the China Daily reported over the weekend.

This marks the first time China has imported corn from the Eastern European nation, with the amount expected to reach between 1 million and 1.5 million tons within the next three years, Oleg Bakhmatyuk, chairman at Ukrlandfarming PLC said in the report.

Ukrlandfarming is largest Ukrainian agro-industrial company, the state-owned newspaper said.

It didn't specify the total amount of corn China has bought.

-Zhoudong Shangguan contributed to this article; Dow Jones Newswires; (8610) 8400 7715; zhoudong.shangguan@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 09, 2012 03:04 ET (07:04 GMT)