By: Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council Regional Director of the Middle East and Africa

The U.S. corn market share in Morocco fell to zero this past marketing year as a result of high U.S. prices due to the drought and strong competition from South American origin corn. Consistent customer servicing in Morocco is necessary to regain Moroccan confidence and create demand for U.S. corn.

The U.S. Grains Council is staying optimistic about rebuilding U.S. feed grain and co-products use in Morocco and this week sponsored three key members and purchasing influencers from the Moroccan feed industry to the United States.

Besides experiencing the frigid December air of Minnesota, the Moroccans met with U.S. corn producers as well as U.S. exporters and suppliers to learn more about U.S. corn supply and quality. The Moroccan team, made up of major end users of corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten meal and corn gluten feed, also toured an ethanol plant. While at the ethanol plant the Council promoted the U.S. ethanol industry co-product, DDGS, to the team.

The Moroccans will wrap-up their visit next week with a stop at USGC headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a meeting with their U.S. counterpart, the American Feed Industry Association.

As U.S. corn regains cost-competitiveness with a record 2013 harvest, the Council will continue to work with the Moroccan feed millers to rebuild demand for U.S. grains and co-products.