Today (Jan 25), the market for grains in China is shown as follows:

Corn:

Corn prices mainly keep steady with a partial adjustment in China. And the average price is 2,868 CNY/tonne nationwide, an increase of 1 CNY/tonne compared to last Friday. Deep-processing enterprises in Shandong offer at 2,920-3,090 CNY/tonne, a partial adjustment of 6-144 CNY/tonne from last Friday while a partial decrease of 4-32 CNY/tonne from yesterday. At Jinzhou port, Liaoning, new corn (volume weight with 720 g/L, moisture content within 15%, impurity with 1%, mildew with 2%) is priced at 2,920-2,930 CNY/tonne. At Bayuquan port, Liaoning, Grade-II new corn of 2020 (volume weight with 720 g/L, moisture content within 15%, impurity with 1%, mildew with 2%) is priced at 2,930-2,940 CNY/tonne. Both are seeing a marginal decline of 10 CNY/tonne from yesterday. In Gongzhuling, Jilin, GB Grade-III corn is steadily offered at 2,840 CNY/tonne while GB Grade-IV is 2,820 CNY/tonne. The purchasing price by Longfeng company in Suihua Qinggang, Heilongjiang is unchanged at 2,640 CNY/tonne.

After corn prices in North China rise to high levels, the profits go up. There are 1,446 trucks waiting to get unloaded in Shandong earlier this morning, a significant increase of 1,317 versus 129 last Monday. Some enterprises cut corn price by 4-32 CNY/tonne. For the moment, the proportion of corn added in feed has consecutively increased. The new regulation about wheat auction was issued last night, and this new policy discourages wheat stockpiling behavior, so as to meet feed mills’ demand for wheat. China’s corn imports during the year of 2020 record a fresh high. Corn futures slip today, depressing market sentiment. And corn prices at Southern and Northern ports decrease by 10-40 CNY/tonne. Besides, due to a reduction in production in main producing regions and less corn released under policy, corn market is heading for a foreseeable tight supply, offering support to market. Plus, corn sales are in faster progress than formers years due to early high prices, so corn stocks are not many left in some farmers’ hand. In addition, due to the strict virus containment measures and lockdowns in some regions amid the second wave of COVID-19, the purchase and sale of corn have bogged down. What’s more, the freight goes up as the lunar year is drawing to a close, pushing up the cost. Overall, short-term corn market is expected to fluctuate at the high level. Market participants should keep close eyes on the situation of coronavirus pandemic and policy guidelines.

Sorghum:

New sorghum prices are stable in China today. New sorghum planted area and production suffer a reduction under the influence of typhoons this year and an expansion in other crops, so farmers show strong sentiment in propping up prices. Moreover, large-scale well-known wineries gradually start their stocking up for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Growing downstream demand is thus support domestic sorghum prices to keep firm. But imported sorghum is in huge supply and of low prices, so some small distilleries are purchasing imported sorghum to save cost. This is weighing down domestic sorghum market.

Imported sorghum prices are stable with some declined in China today, with the average price at 2,912 CNY/tonne. As of January 15, imported sorghum stocks total 210,000 tonnes at Guangdong ports. And an expected rise in sorghum arrivals will be weighing down sorghum prices in China. But imported sorghum market keeps firm under growing feed demand and a sustained recovery in hog stocks, as well as the drive of high-level corn prices.

Barley:

Imported barley prices climb in China today, with the overall price at 2,492 CNY/tonne. China has halted barley imports from Australia’s largest grain exporter whose shipments were found with pests on multiple occasions, further disrupting barley trade between these two nations. Moreover, some domestic feed manufacturers also start using barley as corn prices keep climbing, which also bolsters barley prices. But imported barley stocks total 393,000 tonnes at Guangdong ports as of January 15. While more cargoes are expected to arrive at ports, barley market is in weak demand and slow shipments, which will be negative to prices. Overall, imported barley prices are predicted to stay stable in China.

(USD $1=CNY ¥6.48)