March 26, 2008

China exports corn to Taiwan under special quota to ease tight supply 

China has exported 25,000 tonnes of corn to Taiwan under a special quota to help ease supply tightness on the island, an industry participant said Wednesday (March 26, 2008).

Whether China will issue more corn export quotas to Taiwan depends on the island, which strictly controls grain imports from China, said Gu Lifeng, manager of the corn department at COFCO Ltd., which arranged the exports.

Taiwan's government in October temporarily allow feed corn imports from China to help stabilize local prices amid rising inflation on the island.

The lifting of the ban is effective Oct. 1 until March 31, 2008.

The corn was delivered Monday and is expected to arrive at Taiwan's Gaoxiong port Friday.

The Chinese government in principle stopped corn exports from late last year due to tightening domestic supply.