USGC hosts forum between growers and Asian buyers

China is the top importer of U.S. sorghum, distiller’s dried grains with solubles, and feed barley.
China is the top importer of U.S. sorghum, distiller’s dried grains with solubles, and feed barley. | File photo

The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Grain Export Mission (GEM) recently gave 11 U.S. farmers the chance to meet with customers from China and the Philippines, letting them gain a better perspective of the challenges, opportunities and competition U.S grains face within the Asian nations. 

The USGC showed members the efforts of both countries and shared updates on U.S. crop production during symposia.

Last year, China was the world’s second-largest corn producer and consumer and the top market for U.S. sorghum and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and feed barley. The only thing keeping China from being the world’s largest importer of corn is its policies and regulations, including a tariff-rate quota and unapproved biotech traits.

“Building trust and partnerships in agricultural trade is part of how the council is working in China to create more stable demand,” USGC Director in China Bryan Lohmar said. “Since 1981, the council has worked in China to find solutions to the challenges of food security through development and trade. These programs continue today, with efforts like the GEM focused on information sharing and relationship building.”

In the Philippines, GEM participants focused on ethanol and DDGS imports, which USGC staff believes the U.S. will potentially buy more of.

“While in the Philippines, GEM participants got an overview of why Southeast Asia is an up-and-coming, dynamic region for U.S. feed ingredient imports,” USGC Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia Kevin Roepke said. “They also had a chance to explore the ethanol market in my region, one part of a worldwide effort by the council to promote ethanol exports.”