Today (Mar. 9), the market for grains in China is shown as follows:

Domestic corn prices keep steady with slight fluctuations today. The price prevails at 1,930-1,980 yuan/tonne with some declines of 10-36 yuan/tonne compared to last Friday 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 last Friday (moisture 14.5% and test weight 700-720 g/L). At Bayuquan port, the purchasing price of new corn of 2019 is 1,880-1,890 yuan/tonne unchanged from yesterday (test weight 690-700 g/L). At Shekou port, Guangdong, the second-class corn is mainly priced at 1,990-2,000 yuan/tonne, which is unchanged with last Friday.

With the weather warming up, farmers in North China are more willing to sell the corn of high moisture, so the arrivals at factories keep staying at a high level. In order to maintain safety inventory, local enterprises successively lower purchasing prices to control the supply, with a further decline of 10-20 yuan/tonne compared to last Friday. But for the moment, the corn sales in northeast area has been sped up, and farmers run out stocks of ground-corn (which heaps on the ground) and are reluctant 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 and the subordinated storehouse raising price to purchase corn, seeing an increase of buyers and supporting local market. Therefore, the overall trend of northeast market is still strong. Due to the different supply characteristics in different regions, short-term corn market is likely to mainly fluctuate slightly in stability.

Domestic sorghum prices are mixed today with the overall index higher than last Friday, 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 market. On the whole, sorghum price is predicted to be little changed.

Imported sorghum prices are stable, 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. Private exporters sold 110,000 tonnes of sorghum to China, with shipment in 2019/20, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture on Wednesday. Hence, the volume of US sorghum arriving at ports will keep rising. Overall, imported sorghum price is predicted to step on a downtrend amid concerns over the epidemic.

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.