HOUSTON, TEXAS, US — The US Grains Council (USGC) recently brought a delegation representing nearly 70% of China’s total sorghum imports to Export Sorghum and organized a post-conference tour for the participants, whose country is the top overseas destination for US sorghum.

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), along with its state partners – the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board – held Export Sorghum from June 11-13 in Houston, Texas, US, for buyers and end users worldwide. 

The USGC’s Beijing, China, office organized a post-tour in Texas and Kansas to get a firsthand look at the current sorghum crop and export logistics. The USGC’s office recruited 22 participants, including representatives from five of the top 10 exporters and 12 of the top 20 feed millers in China. Team members consisted of large state-owned trading companies, large private end users/integrators and some relatively small-scale but active groups in the market. 

In marketing year 2023-24, China is projected to import a total of 8 million tonnes of sorghum, according to the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. China feed and residual demand for sorghum is forecast at 8 million tonnes in 2023-24.

“This trade team with high-status representatives indicates the top buyers’ interest in US sorghum; it also reflects a strong trade relationship between the US sorghum industry and China’s feed and livestock industry, which has been fostered over a decade jointly by the US sorghum industry and the Council,” said Yantian Zeng, program manager in Beijing for the USGC.

The team attended the conference to discuss sorghum supply and demand, sorghum in feed uses and other new applications. The team also met with more than seven sorghum exporters in one-on-one meetings. The business-to-business sessions allowed exporters to meet the Chinese representatives, who are looking to diversify suppliers.