National World Ag News Headlines
China Signs Agreement to Import Sorghum From Argentina
USAgNet - 12/03/2014
China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine signed an agreement with the Argentine minister of agriculture, indicating China will begin importing sorghum from an approved list of Argentine companies. The agreement included the inspection and quarantine requirements for
imported sorghum from Argentina as well as a published list of 25 registered Argentine companies allowed to export sorghum to China.
While no start date for the agreement is specified, it appears as though it will begin immediately.
"Argentina's supply alone cannot meet the growing needs of China's sorghum demand," Sorghum Checkoff Executive Director Lopez said. "Efforts by the Sorghum Checkoff and the U.S Grains Council have helped U.S. sorghum become a valued feed ingredient and will assure U.S. sorghum remains so into the
future."
Lopez said an increase in world sorghum demand helps promote sorghum in general, and Argentina exports will help competition of U.S. sorghum in other markets both domestically and internationally.
"This can be a turning point for U.S. sorghum," Lopez said. "China's demand and potential price shifts will help increase overall demand for sorghum and industry growth while also allowing the checkoff to share more information about U.S. sorghum."
According to a recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service, China imported 569 million bushels of coarse grains last marketing year. Of the total bushels, 169 million were reported as U.S. sorghum.
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