July 16, 2008
 

EU imported a total of 13.4 million tonnes of corn between July 2007 and May 2008, a 38-percent increase from the same period prior, according to latest official EU statistics.

Italian trade fair centre CremonaFiere's research office also reported that the 27 member countries imported a total of 5.1 million tonnes of corn between July 2006 and May 2007, and 2.4 million tonnes for July 2005 to May 2006. This translates to an overall increase of 82 percent over the three-year period.

However, the rise in corn imports paled in comparison to the massive increase in sorghum imports last year.

Sorghum imports  shot up ten-fold to 5.3 million tonnes from July 2006 to May 2007 from just 49,000 tonnes the same period the year before.

The sharp hike in sorghum imports was due to grain supply shortage in the EU last year, leading importers to buy sorghum as a substitute for corn.

EU grain markets looks set to improve as domestic output is expected to increase, due to the expansion of grain planted areas in the EU of 3.3 million hectares from 56.6 million hectares last year, said CremonaFiere's research office.