Chinese feed mills are using much less corn, according to USDA's office in Beijing: corn's share of compound feed fell from 47% in January to 29% in August, All Ag News reports.
Deep losses in hog production are pushing feed users toward lower-cost rations and cutting demand from the swine sector. Wheat, barley and sorghum are taking corn's place whenever prices favour the switch.
China's breeding sow herd was 37.8 million head at the end of the second quarter, down 6.5% from a year earlier. Feed for poultry, aquaculture and ruminants is expected to offset part of the decline in hog feed, and total grain feed and residual use for 2026-27 is forecast at 292.2 million tonnes, nearly unchanged from last year.
USDA expects price competitiveness and domestic grain supplies to keep driving China's feed choices and imports, which adds a further hurdle for US corn exporters unless their grain regains a clear price advantage. The report is by Tony St. James.
Photo: Dingar / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Source: All Ag News
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