Indonesia to import one million tonnes of corn

Indonesia plans to import up to one million tonnes of a corn type that is not yet produced in the country.

The corn is needed by the local animal feed industry, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Bayu Krisnamurthi, adding that there is no guarantee of supply from domestic producers as corn production centres are located far from factories.

Indonesia needs around 4.5 million tonnes of corn, which make up 50% of the basic materials for animal feed, he said.

The country's production of around 17 million tonnes of corn should be more than enough to feed the industry but most factories are located Banten in Java with corn producing centres are scattered in various other islands, he said.