U.S. Grains Council leads trade mission to Mexico

U.S. grain leaders traveled to Mexico last week to meet with longtime customers and incoming officials from the Mexican government. The annual officers mission brings together leaders from the U.S. Grains Council and the national organizations representing the feed grains it promotes in international markets, including the National Corn Growers Association, the National Sorghum Producers and United Sorghum Checkoff Program and the National Barley Growers Association. Mexico is the top foreign buyer of U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles and barley and a significant buyer of U.S. sorghum. The country also holds near-term potential for increased use of U.S. ethanol following energy policy changes in recent years. “Mexico is the most critical market for our members and an amazing example of what the right combination of policy and robust market development can do to build overseas grain demand,” said USGC Chairman Jim Stitzlein, an agribusiness member of the U.S. Grains Council. “Engaging with our customers in Mexico is always a priority, and we are excited to visit and show we are back to business as usual now that the USMCA agreement is ready to go.” In 2017/2018, shipments of feed grains in all forms – a holistic measure of the grain consumed by a market as a commodity or in value-added products – to Mexico hit a new record of 25.2 million metric tons – almost 1 billion bushels in corn equivalent. That sales figure was up 6.3% year-over-year based on competitive prices and strong logistics.

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