Photo credit: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council joined a delegation of U.S. sorghum industry leaders last month for trade meetings in China and Mongolia, aiming to strengthen relationships in a key export market and assess new opportunities in an emerging livestock feed sector.
The delegation included USGBC Director in China Manuel Sanchez, USGBC Program Manager Ellie Yan, National Sorghum Producers Legislative Director Elissa Gilliam, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board Executive Director Wayne Cleveland and representatives from U.S. feed grain agribusinesses.
China remains one of the largest global markets for U.S. sorghum, driven in part by demand from the baijiu industry, where sorghum is a primary ingredient.
“China is a massive market for U.S. sorghum producers, with the world’s most popular liquor, baijiu, distilled from sorghum,” Sanchez said. “Solidifying relationships and expanding connections in that industry brings significant demand to U.S. growers.”
In Shanghai, the group met with stakeholders across the sorghum supply chain and end-use sectors, starting with a visit to Tanggou Distillery to review baijiu production and its quality specifications for sorghum.
The council also co-hosted a roundtable discussion with 13 sorghum trading companies in partnership with USGBC member Louis Dreyfus’ China office. Representatives from Cargill, CHS and major Chinese feed and livestock companies also participated.
Discussions centered on new-crop conditions, U.S. sorghum supply and broader market dynamics. Industry leaders addressed questions about production and grain quality as buyers prepare for the next sales season.
The delegation later traveled to Beijing for meetings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Embassy. The team received updates on China’s economic conditions, grain import trends over the past five years and shifts in domestic consumption.
In Mongolia, the delegation met with agribusiness leaders, government officials and agricultural experts to examine sorghum’s potential in the country’s livestock sector.
The group identified growing demand for high-quality feed as livestock producers place greater emphasis on animal nutrition and feed efficiency.
Sanchez said the visit also highlighted the need for producer education and market-specific outreach.
“Our visit in Mongolia highlighted potential partnerships with local agribusinesses and the need for workshops to educate producers about sorghum’s advantages,” Sanchez said. “Overall, the visit to Mongolia laid the foundation for future collaboration and the introduction of U.S. sorghum into the Mongolian market.”
Gilliam said expanding export markets remains critical for sorghum growers as the industry works to build demand and improve market stability.
“For sorghum farmers, export markets are not abstract, they directly affect farm income, market stability and long-term demand,” Gilliam said. “These conversations help buyers better understand the quality, reliability and value of U.S. sorghum, and they help our industry better understand what customers need.”
Source: U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, "U.S. Sorghum Delegation Visits China, Mongolia, Strengthening Market Engagement"