January 13, 2004

China Wheat Delegation Planning US Visit In February

China's sole state trading enterprise for wheat imports Cofco, announced their intention to visit the United States in early to mid-February, officials with U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) said.

China National Cereals Oils and Foodstuff Import & Export Corp, or Cofco, stated that it will meet with USW and the grain trade, according to USW. The visiting officials plan to discuss the general wheat market situation during the visit, both countries' supply and demand situations, and consider purchases of U.S. wheat depending on market prices and China's requirements, said USW.

Delegations representing Chinese wheat buyers were originally scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Dec. 1, but those visits were called off in mid-November after the U.S. decided to restrict some Chinese textile exports.

In late December, U.S. Wheat Associates received a letter from Cofco stating its intentions to visit the U.S. and acknowledged interest in buying U.S. wheat.

As of Jan. 1, China had moved up to the 12th largest buyer of U.S. wheat for the 2003-04 marketing year. Sales to China so far in the current marketing year tally 504,500 metric tons, up from 66,000 tons for the same date last year.