China’s corn crop is expected to hit a record high of more than 180 million tons, though a continued strong increase in domestic demand means the growth is not likely to offset an increase in imports, according to reports.
China uses 105 million tons of corn per year for animal feed, with another 60 million to 70 million tons used in the processing sector for such products as starch, citric acid and ethanol. Increased meat consumption in China has generated extra demand for corn as animal feed, and industrial demand for starch and ethanol is increasing, putting pressure on corn imports.