With 210 international grain buyers from 41 countries and an additional 200 U.S. exporters representing every sector of the coarse grains value chain in attendance, Export Exchange 2014 was this year’s premiere global grain trade conference. Wrapping up on Oct. 22, the conference was a resounding success for both international buyers and U.S. suppliers.
Held every other year by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Export Exchange focuses on trade of corn, sorghum, barley, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten meal and corn gluten feed during a three day conference program plus, for most of the international attendees, pre- and post-conference site visits. This year, 18 buyer teams attended the conference and toured farms, elevators, ethanol plants, technology providers and export terminals in 19 states. These teams had the opportunity to see the scope and sophistication of the U.S. production system firsthand, building their confidence in the United States’ ability to meet their demand.
Building Connections That Last a Lifetime
The Export Exchange program gave attendees ample time to do business both while attending the conference in Seattle, Washington, USA, and on their tours.
“The point of Export Exchange isn’t just the sales that were made this week,” said Ron Gray, USGC chairman. “For us, this effort is about establishing and nurturing relationships with our customers that will continue to grow when they get back home and in the years to come.”
In addition to meeting with suppliers, Export Exchange attendees were briefed on the global supply and demand situation, key economic drivers affecting the global feed grains trade and the latest developments in shipping, financing and the U.S. policy environment.
Trade Teams Explore Midwest
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of coarse grains. With a record corn harvest now reaching export channels, the pre- and post-Export Exchange tours were an opportunity for the world’s top buyers to see the U.S. supply and quality for themselves.
Trade teams were in the field the week before and the week after Export Exchange. Teams hailed from regions as diverse as Egypt, Japan, China, the European Union and Southeast Asia. The Council works directly in all of these markets, with offices in 10 locations outside of the United States.
For more information about Export Exchange 2014, please visit www.exportexchange.org. To view photos and video updates from the event as well as pre- and post-Export Exchange tours please visit the Council’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgc and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/USGrainsCouncil.