Pakistan poultry group seeks ban on corn exports

The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) is urging the government to impose a ban on corn exports and to implement a zero percent duty for corn imports until May 2010.

Pakistan is currently facing an acute shortage of corn, a major ingredient in poultry feeds. Corn is selling at very high rates in Pakistan, and the next corn crop would only arrive in the market in June 2010.

About 250,000 tonnes of corn has been exported during a time of insufficient corn supply in the market. According to PPA, corn acreage had decreased by 14% during season 2008-09, causing production to fall by 10%. The government had also imposed 25% regulatory duty on corn imports.

The price of 40kg feeds bag was PKR550 (US$6.5) in October 2009, but it has since escalated to PKR850 (US$10) this month.