China Turns to U.S. Corn as War Puts Ukraine Supplies at Risk

By Tarso Veloso Ribeiro

China is ramping up corn purchases from the U.S. as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine snarls grain exports and puts spring plantings in doubt, pushing prices higher in Chicago.

The world’s top importer scooped up 200,000 metric tons of corn last week for shipment in the season beginning Sept. 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture datashowed Thursday, the most since December. While China was only the fourth-largest buyer for the week, the sale was notable since the Asian country had been purchasing supplies from Ukraine. China was also the leading buyer of U.S. soybeans, picking up more than 800,000 tons.

Sales of U.S. corn to all global destinations of more than 2 million tons came even as prices traded around the highest levels since the all-time peak in 2012. The increase in purchases comes after China fell short of its 2021 commitments to buy U.S. commodities under the phase-one trade deal.

The U.S. is the main alternative for China filling a possible corn supply gap as Brazil, the world’s second-largest exporter, has limited room to increase its sales, according to Andre Pessoa, head of the Brazilian forecaster Agroconsult. Guidelines established in a protocol for Brazil’s corn exports to China currently hampers the trade.

Overall, demand for corn from the U.S., Brazil and Argentina soared in the past weeks as the war escalated, but purchases have slowed down recently, Pessoa said. Brazil will ship around 2 million tons of corn in March and April, which is very unusual for those months, he said.

Read More: China Buys Up U.S. Corn, Soybeans as Ukraine War Roils Trade

Corn futures in Chicago extended gains after the U.S. export sales data and as the International Grains Council slashed its outlook for world supplies due to the war. May-delivery futures rose 3.2% to $7.5325 a bushel, while wheat gained 2.2% soybeans climbed 1.2%.

“From a fundamental perspective you have a different situation in wheat and corn,” said David Brock, marketing advisor and principle at Brock Associates in Milwaukee. “The corn market will be focused on just how massive the sowing is over the coming weeks. On the other hand we are a few months from winter wheat harvest and Ukraine’s deputy ag minister said crops look good.”

There are growing worries that weather woes will stay pressuring available supplies in the near-term, especially with poor crop ratings and logistics disruptions.