UPDATE 1 — China's corn harvest set to grow; US corn 'not an option yet,' COFCO Futures research director says
(Recasts, adds details throughout) By Ella Cao and Liz Lee DALIAN, China, Oct 13 (Reuters) — China's corn output is expected to rise this year while imports edge lower, with US supplies "not an option yet" because they remain uneconomical, Zhang Dalong, agricultural products research director at COFCO Futures, said on Tuesday. Speaking at a conference in the northeastern city of Dalian, Zhang said China's new-crop corn production would increase by 5 million to 8 million metric tons from last year, largely driven by gains in North China. "In the Northeast, planted area increased but yields declined, while corn output and quality improved in North China," he said. Zhang forecast China's 2026/27 corn imports at 3.5 million metric tons, down 170,000 tons from the previous year, including 1.2 million tons each from Brazil and Argentina and 900,000 tons from the US, with the remainder from other suppliers. Global traders have been closely watching whether China will step up purchases of US agricultural goods after the two countries released a proposed tariff-reduction list covering corn, wheat, vegetable oils and meals, among other products. Corn has historically been among the highest-v
(Recasts, adds details throughout) By Ella Cao and Liz Lee DALIAN, China, Oct 13 (Reuters) — China's corn output is expected to rise this year while imports edge lower, with US supplies "not an option yet" because they remain uneconomical, Zhang Dalong, agricultural products research director at COFCO Futures, said on Tuesday. Speaking at a conference in the northeastern city of Dalian, Zhang said China's new-crop corn production would increase by 5 million to 8 million metric tons from last year, largely driven by gains in North China. "In the Northeast, planted area increased but yields declined, while corn output and quality improved in North China," he said.
2 million tons each from Brazil and Argentina and 900,000 tons from the US, with the remainder from other suppliers. Global traders have been closely watching whether China will step up purchases of US agricultural goods after the two countries released a proposed tariff-reduction list covering corn, wheat, vegetable oils and meals, among other products. Corn has historically been among the highest-value US agricultural exports to China and could play a key role in helping Beijing meet the $17 billion purchase commitment that the White House said was agreed at the leaders' summit in May.
However, Zhang said US corn was not currently commercially viable, even under a 1% in-quota tariff, because import margins remained negative. 93) per ton. China's sorghum imports are projected at 8 million metric tons in 2026/27, up 550,000 tons from the previous year, Zhang said. 14 million tons year-on-year.
06 million tons from a year earlier. 6 million tons. com;)