November 24, 2010

China's corn imports surge in October

China imported 251,934 tonnes of corn in October, including 244,626 tonnes from the US, both figures reflecting a sharp growth on-year, said the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

In the first 10 months of this year, China's corn imports totalled 1.5 million tonnes, including 1.4 million tonnes from the US. The GAC did not provide last year's figures for comparison but noted sharp growth in both figures.

This was caused by rising pork and poultry prices in China that have pushed up demand for corn as a key ingredient for animal feed, said Fan Shenggen, director of the International Food Policy Research Institute.

China consumes 150 million tonnes of corn per year, of which 90% are for feed and industrial purposes.