Using Market Assess Program (MAP) funds, the U.S. Grains Council hosted an eight-person team from Turkey to Export Exchange 2016, held in October 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. The team included representatives from six major feed grain importing companies who visited corn producers, ethanol plants and major grain exporters in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Export Exchange 2016 offered attendees a unique opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, DDGS, sorghum, barley and other commodities. More than 200 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products from more than 35 countries along with 180 U.S. industry participants were in Detroit for the conference.
At the conclusion of the conference, the Turkish participants were surveyed and reported they bought or were negotiating purchases of approximately 110,000 metric tons of corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten feed, valued at $18.2 million.
In 2016, the Council invested approximately $90,000 conducting marketing programs in Turkey and hosting the delegation to Export Exchange, generating a return on investment (ROI) of $202 for every $1 of MAP invested.