This week’s U.S. Grains Council Chart of the Week shows U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) exports to Japan since 2004. According to the Ministry of Finance Customs, Japan imported more than 384,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS between January and October 2012, marking the highest imports on record. According to USGC Director in Japan, Tommy Hamamoto, imports are on track to reach 450,000 metric tons in calendar year 2012. Hamamoto also suggested that imports could increase even more in 2013, provided that U.S. ethanol and DDGS production rebound and as Japanese nutritionists gain familiarity with the new low-fat DDGS.