November 2, 2006

China's corn exports drop 68 percent

China's corn exports fell 68 percent in the first nine months of the year amid increased domestic demand for the grain as a fuel.

The country exported 2.3 million tonnes of corn in the period, reported China Customs on its website.

The nation's raw cotton imports rose 76 percent in the first nine months, to 3.2 million tonnes, said the Customs.

Average price of imports was US$1,334 a tonne, 8.5 percent higher than last year.