The Southeast Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference in Indonesia attracted “the elite of the elite buyers of Southeast Asia,� according to Frank Kralicek of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.
Kralicek, who delivered the U.S. and world corn supply and demand presentation, reported a record turnout of more than 180 people representing major feed milling, integrated feed-meat-food producing and trading companies from the region.
He praised Adel Yusupov, USGC regional director, for the quality of the program and the turnout. “I got a lot of questions even before speaking,� Kralicek reported. “Not just about quality and supply, but even about farm programs, the markets, and whether we have the transportation facilities to supply enough corn to Southeast Asia. They asked questions the whole time I was there.�
The conference, sponsored by the Council and the American Soybean Association, offered ample time and activities for participants to consult privately with speakers and guests and to network among themselves, according to Yusupov. “Southeast Asian grain buyers took advantage of the direct contact with U.S. exporters to purchase corn, corn products and substantial amounts of soybeans and soybean meal,� Yusupov said.
Trades negotiated at the conference increased from $368,939,351 worth of commodities in 2010 to $461,901,280. Wheat sales dropped from 2010 and soybean sales declined slightly, but corn, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and soybean meal sales registered major gains (see graph).
“This conference continues to receive tremendous support from the industry. We hope with each passing year to continue providing this platform to help the region’s agricultural industry progress,� Yusupov concluded.
Kralicek also rated the conference a success: “If anything, we should probably have more people there.�
In metric tons. DDGS was included in the corn category in 2010.