Grain: World Markets and Trade, November 2003

Grain: World Markets and Trade
Foreign Agricultural Service Circular Series
FG 11-03
November 2003

Pie Chart: Corn Export Market Share 2003-04

A record crop and shrinking competition will help U.S. corn exports to recover in 2003/04, after posting the lowest market share in 30 years. For the previous 5 years, U.S. exports slid while Argentina and Brazil expanded into the North African/Middle Eastern markets and China became dominant in Asia. That situation is expected to reverse this year, as Argentina faces the prospect of a smaller crop, and China’s exportable supplies are reduced because of decreased production and years of aggressive stock drawdowns.

Total U.S. commitments (shipments and sales) to North Africa since September are almost double the amount for the same period last year, while Argentina’s pace to those markets has slowed. U.S. sales to Indonesia, Taiwan, and South Korea are also ahead of last year. There are reports that Malaysian importers are looking to other sources as the Chinese pipeline dries up. The uncertainty over China’s export program could give a further boost to U.S. corn sales to Asia.