January 11, 2005

China's Corn Exports May More Than Double in Year to September 2005

China, the world's second-biggest corn producer after the US, may export 5 millions tons of corn in the marketing year ending September 2005 after a bigger harvest last year, according to a State Grain Administration affiliate.

Corn exports may rise 150 percent this year from 2 million tons in 2004, said Li Ke, director of the China National Grain and Oils Information Center, at a conference in Shanghai.

The center on November 4 predicted China's corn harvest to rise 14 percent to 131.7 million tons in 2004 from 2003, after the area sown with the crop expanded 6 percent to 25.6 million hectares.

China's demand for corn is projected at 126 million tons for the crop year through Sept. 31, 2005.

"Based on last year's harvest, this marketing year will be the first time in 5 years where production will exceed demand,'' said Li.