Today (Mar. 5), the market for grains in China is shown as follows:

Domestic corn prices keep steady with slight fluctuations today. The price prevails at 1,900-1,990 yuan/tonne with some declines of 6-20 yuan/tonne compared to yesterday among deep-processing enterprises in Shandong. At Jinzhou port, Liaoning, some traders offer the purchasing price at 1,875-1,900 yuan/tonne flat from yesterday (moisture 14.5% and test weight 700-720 g/L). At Bayuquan port, the purchasing price of new corn of 2019 is 1,870-1,880 yuan/tonne unchanged from yesterday (test weight 690-700 g/L). At Shekou port, Guangdong, the second-class corn is priced at 2,000 yuan/tonne but traded at 1,990-2,000 yuan/tonne, while individual corn is traded at 1,980 yuan/tonne in cash.

Under the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the sales cycle is shortened, so farmers speed up the sales. With the weather warming up, the market supply in North China rapidly increases.  And there were more than 1,500 vehicles arriving at Shandong this morning. In order to maintain safety inventory, some deep-processing enterprises successively lower purchasing prices to control the supply, with a decline of 6-20 yuan/tonne. But for the moment, farmers in northeast area run out stocks of ground-corn (which heaps on the ground) and are in no hurry to sell the rest loft-corn (which reserves in loft). Furthermore, the inventories in some northeast deep-processing enterprises are significantly lower than the same period last year after recent consumption, so they are in need for replenishment. Also, with the grain dryer in producing area starting working, traders are more willing to purchase corn and buyers in the market increase. Therefore, these factors offer support to market, and short-term corn price will stay stable with slight fluctuations. Buyers can focus on the situation of market supply.

Domestic sorghum prices remain flat today, of which dried sorghum prices prevail at around 2500-2600 yuan/tonne. Traders gradually return to the market, while sorghum is in reducing supply, so both farmers and traders are maintaining prices. But imported sorghum will be arriving at ports in huge amount, which is of lower price and will crack down on domestic sorghum. On the whole, sorghum price is predicted to be little changed.

Imported sorghum prices are stable partially, of which US raw sorghum is quoted at 2000-2050 yuan/tonne. Logistics are recovering as some regions clear the blockade in roads, and enterprises are set to resume work and imports. But market participants are worried about lower sorghum demand as the virus outbreak could have an impact on the economic growth in China. And there are rising US sorghum arriving at ports. Overall, imported sorghum price is predicted to step on a downtrend amid concerns over the virus.

Imported barley prices keep steady today. Logistics are recovering as some regions cleat the blockade in roads, and enterprises are set to resume work and imports. But some traders are only making pre-sales and had difficulty making shipment as logistics are still slow under the influence of the coronavirus. Imported barley price is predicted to stay stable amid concerns over the virus.