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JCI: China’s Corn Imports are Beginning of ‘New Era’ 
The chairman and chief consultant of Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. Ltd. (JCI) said his organization anticipates that China will import some 1.7 million tons of corn this year, 5.8 million tons next year and as much as 15 million tons in 2014-2015.

Speaking through a translator, JCI’s Hanver Li told those at the U.S. Grains Council’s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting that demand for corn in China is simply outstripping the country’s production trend. China’s economy continues to grow, he explained, which is driving an increase in demand for meat, milk and eggs because as incomes rise, food is one of the first items people look to buy.

In fact, JCI estimates that meat consumption per capita will grow from 59 kg in 2005 to 61.7 kg this year to 63.1 kg in 2015. Milk consumption will grow from 22.0 in 2005 to 30.1 and 33.4 in that same time frame, while aquatic products will grow from 39.2 to 44.1 and 48.9. Li said rural areas will drive meat demand, while urban centers will drive milk and aquatic products demand.

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RFA Partners with USGC on International DDGS and Coarse Grains Conference 
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council are pleased to announce the Export Exchange 2010, an international trade conference focused around the export of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and coarse grains. This co-sponsored event will bring together more than 150 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains with more than 300 U.S. producers and agribusinesses. The conference will be held on Oct. 6-8, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel in Chicago, Ill.

“The opportunity to educate foreign buyers about high quality, U.S.-produced DDGS could not come at a better time,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “At current dietary inclusion levels, distillers grains consumption is nearing saturation in the United States. Increasing U.S. exports of distillers grains will be instrumental in helping the industry avoid running into a ‘feed wall.’ Fortunately, markets around the world are rapidly opening, creating demand for approximately 15 to 20 percent of all distillers grains produced today. We look forward to fostering continued growth in export markets and we are excited to co-sponsor the premier forum for connecting international feed buyers with U.S. producers of distillers grains.”

The Export Exchange 2010 is uniquely focused on connecting international buyers of DDGS and coarse grains with the U.S. market. The Council is providing sponsorship for the attendance of targeted international trade teams from more than 25 countries. These participants represent nearly 80 percent of the global export market for DDGS and coarse grains. The conference will address critical issues facing U.S. exports and seek to educate and build awareness of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains among international buyers.

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FAEA Executive Director to Speak at USGC Anniversary Meeting
Richard Fritz, executive director of the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA), is scheduled to speak at the U.S. Grains Council’s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting, July 18-21.

Fritz’s relationship with the Council began approximately three and a half years ago with the founding of FAEA. Formed to capitalize on the strength of existing export organizations, FAEA works together with its five cooperators and foreign regulatory agencies to help facilitate international trade and improve food and feed safety by assisting nations to develop applicable regulatory requirements.

The five cooperators of FAEA include: the U.S. Dairy Export Council; the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council; the U.S. Meat Export Federation; the U.S. Soybean Export Council; and the Council.

“The five cooperators got together and decided to work on long-term issues related to market access, looking at the rules and regulations that countries are developing,” Fritz said. “They also are trying to help countries put in place rules and regulations that meet international obligations for trade.”