The Council and the Texas Department of Agriculture visited Spain in early November to meet with Spanish grain importers and compound feed producers, where they assessed the opportunities for U.S. sorghum exports in 2022.

Spain produces approximately 36 million metric tons (MMT) of compound feed annually and is the largest pork producer in the European Union (EU). With Spain being an important buyer of U.S. sorghum, the mission allowed the Council and Texas sorghum exporters to engage in a dialogue with customers and to ensure U.S. sorghum was not overlooked as the Spanish market made its purchasing plans for 2022.

Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director of global strategies; Paige Stevenson, USGC manager of global trade; and Loyola Toran, USGC regional consultant in Spain, represented the Council on the mission in November. Additional attendees included industry executives, a member of the Texas Sorghum Association and an official from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The team had one-on-one meetings with Spanish grain importers, feed producers and hog producers while there that allowed U.S. exporters to offer importers a better understanding of how grain flows throughout the Spanish market. Overall, Spanish importers hold U.S. sorghum in high regard and remain interested in gaining knowledge about its multiple uses.

As a result of the meetings, the Council immediately received follow-up calls from the Spanish industry asking for price and quality specifications, highlighting the importance of trade missions and meeting face-to-face with customers.