Grainnet

U.S. Grains Council Helps Promote Increase in U.S. Corn Exports to Morocco

This article is reprinted from the June 26 edition of the U.S. Grain Council's Global Update.

The U.S. Grains Council identified Morocco as an emerging market for U.S. feed grains in 1994 and since then has mobilized the country’s poultry and livestock sectors to incorporate modern production practices.

These efforts contributed significantly to Morocco importing nearly 2 million metric tons of U.S. corn from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008.

“By working hands-on to increase the production of meat, milk and eggs accompanied by increasing per capita incomes, U.S. feed grain exports to Morocco have surpassed all projections derived from traditional economic models,” said Chris Corry, USGC senior director of international operations – Rest of the World.

“Our philosophy has always been to get more mouths in the troughs in order to stimulate greater demand for feed grains and we did our best to make sure those grains were harvested by U.S. farmers.”

Corry said Council staff and producer members predicted Morocco would import 1.2 million tons of U.S. corn by 2010. Those expectations were met and then some.

The 1.92 million tons of U.S. corn exported to Morocco represents a nearly 12 percent growth from the 1.63 million tons exported in the 2006/2007 marketing year.

U.S. corn is not the only feed grain gaining traction in Morocco.

In 1997, with financial support form the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, the Council donated 51 tons of sorghum for commercial poultry feeding trials.

After the trials, which included feeding 110,000 broilers, concluded one year later, Morocco imported 139,700 tons (5.5 million bushels) of U.S. produced sorghum.

Corry said the potential for U.S. sorghum to penetrate Morocco’s market this year is strong.

“It will ultimately be a decision made based on price, but corn will certainly be in high demand and supplies may be squeezed, which may give U.S. sorghum the price advantage,” said Corry.

“The hard part is over.

"Moroccan producers trust U.S. sorghum.

"USGC sponsored educational seminars, feeding trials and trade missions are conducted to share information early in order to ensure overseas buyers and end-users trust U.S. feed grains and are ready to buy when the opportunity is there.”

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