US DDGS finds sales opportunity in Saudi Arabia

Representatives of the US Grains Council (USGC) travelled to Saudi Arabia to discuss the purchase and logistics of US DDGS and sorghum with influential shareholders in the importing industry.

Logistics for a free-flow of sorghum and DDGS would mean prices are feasible, and ships can be loaded with corn, sorghum and DDGS without extra loading costs or expenses, said Joe O'Brien, USGC regional director in the Middle East and Subcontinent.

He said Saudi Arabia has been importing white sorghum, mostly from Sudan, and using it in poultry feed, and poultry producers there are convinced that red sorghum causes poultry to have more yellowish skin.

O'Brien said after explaining that skin yellow is not related to sorghum use or tannin levels, they proposed bringing a poultry nutritionist to Saudi Arabia to provide information on the inclusion of sorghum and DDGS into poultry rations.

John Miller of Southwest Agribusiness Consulting Inc. and a USGC consultant, said there is a high level of interest in the use of DDGS in Saudi Arabia.

Feeding industry leaders are just becoming aware of some of the studies and trials of DDGS use in animal production, he said.

Due to its comparative availability and price, industry leaders across the board feel this is a commodity worth looking into for the feeding sector in Saudi Arabia, according to Miller.