Sorghum on the agenda during US and China stakeholder discussions
The US Grains Council (USGC) connected key sorghum customers in China with industry stakeholders during a webinar focused on production, logistics and supply and demand factors.
About 50 industry stakeholders from China attended the event as well as USGC staff in China and the US and other sorghum industry representatives.
Attendees had a lively discussion on the outlook for this year’s sorghum crop - including concerns about drought - pricing and other topics.
Reece Cannady, USGC manager of global trade, said: “Continued engagement is really important for the Chinese market. This webinar was very timely as harvest is beginning in South Texas and is just around the corner throughout the rest of the sorghum belt.
“The Chinese buyers are watching the growing season as south Texas prepares to start their harvest. In general, there is a lot of excitement from the farmer all the way to the end-user in China.”
The council maintains regular communication with Chinese importers and end-users. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, USGC staff cannot conduct these sessions in-person so has focused on one-on-one virtual meetings with major importers.
“Every year we travel to China to check-in with major importers of US sorghum,” Cannady said. “We’re going to replicate those visits over Zoom this year to keep our lines of communication open.”
China has now exceeded the 2018/2019 year-end export total with 2.84 million metric tonnes (112 million bushels) of US sorghum purchased thus far for the 2019/20 marketing year. Additionally, China has purchased 305,000 tonnes (12 million bushels) of new crop US sorghum for the 2020/21 marketing year.
About 50 industry stakeholders from China attended the event as well as USGC staff in China and the US and other sorghum industry representatives.
Attendees had a lively discussion on the outlook for this year’s sorghum crop - including concerns about drought - pricing and other topics.
Reece Cannady, USGC manager of global trade, said: “Continued engagement is really important for the Chinese market. This webinar was very timely as harvest is beginning in South Texas and is just around the corner throughout the rest of the sorghum belt.
“The Chinese buyers are watching the growing season as south Texas prepares to start their harvest. In general, there is a lot of excitement from the farmer all the way to the end-user in China.”
The council maintains regular communication with Chinese importers and end-users. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, USGC staff cannot conduct these sessions in-person so has focused on one-on-one virtual meetings with major importers.
“Every year we travel to China to check-in with major importers of US sorghum,” Cannady said. “We’re going to replicate those visits over Zoom this year to keep our lines of communication open.”
China has now exceeded the 2018/2019 year-end export total with 2.84 million metric tonnes (112 million bushels) of US sorghum purchased thus far for the 2019/20 marketing year. Additionally, China has purchased 305,000 tonnes (12 million bushels) of new crop US sorghum for the 2020/21 marketing year.
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