In recent years, China's demand for corn has increased rapidly. Despite this, the country will not import large amounts of corn from other countries in the short run, said experts attending the China International Corn Industry Exposition currently being held in Changchun.
Since 2001, the amount of deep-processed corn in China has increased at an annual rate of 23%. As a result, China's corn consumption has continued to surge even after exceeding the 120-million-ton mark, said Shang Qiangmin, director of the China Grains and Cooking Oil Information Center.
"China is the world's second largest corn producer. The changes of the trade amount for corn in China will greatly affect the global corn market. At present, China's corn market has shifted from relative balance to a state where demand has exceeded supply. Many domestic and foreign corn experts are deeply concerned with how China's corn trading market will change in future," said Jiang Jianhua, director of the China National Association of Grain Sector.
Facing the shortage of corn supply, Chinese government has issued a series of preferential policies to encourage farmers to grow more corns. At present, the corn planting area has increased and China's corn production has grown year by year. The use of corn as animal fodder has increased steadily, while companies are discouraged to use corn for deep processing since the government has reduced their subsidies. In future, corn consumption in industrial sectors will increase moderately.
The China Grains and Cooking Oil Information Center predicts that in 2007 and 2008, China's corn production will reach 149 million tons and domestic corn consumption will reach 145 million tons. In this case, China's corn supply will exceed its demand by 4 million tons. So, in the middle and short run, China's corn supply will remain sufficient in future.