Thanks in large part to the U.S. government’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, approximately 775,000 metric tons of U.S. agricultural products, valued at more than $267 million, were sold and or negotiated at the 7th Southeast Asia Grain Transportation Conference.

Held in Bali, Indonesia, this past May, the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Soybean Export Council once again brought together more than 100 agriculture companies covering the entire feed to food supply chain, including poultry and livestock integrators, feed and flour millers, soy food and beverage producers, regional and international trading companies, shipping companies, ship chartering companies and port handlers.

“The main objective of the conference is to bring together prospective buyers and sellers and provide a neutral environment in which to encourage networking and business discussions,” said Adel Yusupov, USGC director in Southeast Asia. “U.S. sellers benefit significantly by being able to meet with major Southeast Asian importers in one location.”

Gaining the Competitive Edge in Agribusiness was the central theme this year as attendees heard in-depth market analyses and participated in panel sessions. USGC’s Manager of Global Trade Kevin Roepke gave a well-received presentation on trends in U.S. corn production and transportation sectors. Roepke reassured potential buyers of the U.S. commitment to remain a reliable and leading exporter of corn into the world market.

The conference was well received by the international audience and provided ample time for interactions between U.S. industry and Southeast Asian grain importers. “The true value of this event is in the face time between U.S. industry and international importers,” said Yusupov. “It could not be done without the MAP and FMD programs.”