Bloomberg writers Isis Almeida and Michael Hirtzer reported on Tuesday that, “China is back in the market for U.S. sorghum this week, signaling the world’s top food importer is willing to buy U.S. agricultural products only when they are cheaper.

“China Is Lured Back to U.S. Farm Buying Thanks to Cheap Sorghum,” by Isis Almeida and Michael Hirtzer. Bloomberg News (February 25, 2020).

“Chinese buyers are bidding for U.S. supplies that are for shipment in April and May, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are private.

“It’s the latest sign of China’s hunger for sorghum, just about a week after the Asian nation bought at least four cargoes of the crop, which is used in livestock feed.”

“United States Sorghum Production.” USDA- FAS, International Production Assessment Division.

The Bloomberg writers noted that,

The move also highlights that China will buy U.S. agricultural goods when it makes economic sense after agreeing to billions more in purchases as part of the phase-one trade deal. American sorghum supplies are much cheaper than those from rival producer Australia, where a drought has pushed up prices. By contrast, there have been scant signs of soybean purchases, with shipments from South America still fetching relatively lower costs. The same goes for wheat, with China having recently picked up several cargoes of French grain, the world’s cheapest.

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal writer Katy Stech Ferek reported this week that, “U.S. officials said Chinese leaders have taken the first steps toward implementing the first phase of a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies, an announcement that comes amid concerns that the coronavirus could delay the pace of China’s promise to purchase more U.S. crops and other goods.

“U.S. officials on Tuesday noted that Chinese leaders have lifted import restrictions on U.S. poultry and poultry products and pet food, along with other actions, since the deal took effect on Feb. 14. Those provisions were part of a 90-page written agreement signed in January.

“The deal calls for China to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural products by $32 billion over a two-year period. The officials didn’t say how much China has agreed to purchase of its roughly $200 billion goal so far.”

At a hearing on U.S., China trade on Wednesday at the House Ways and Means Committee, Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. noted that, “In recent years, as China became bigger buyers of U.S. soybeans, soybean exports from Illinois became far more significant.

In 2016, Illinois farmers exported $2.3 billion (dollars) worth of soybeans – almost all of them to China. Our soybean exports eclipsed $2 billion dollars again the following year, ranking only behind petroleum as the state’s biggest commodity export.

“And then in 2018, the Trade War hit – instantly cutting our soybean exports in half. We sold roughly $1 billion fewer soybeans from our state. Last year Illinois soybean exports – at roughly $800 million – were about a third of what they were just three years before.”

Mr. Guebert pointed out that, “And that has impacted farm profitability across Illinois and across the Midwest region. You’ll note the number of farm bankruptcies are on the rise. Farmers have less purchasing power. And despite the passage of tax reform and its enhanced farm equipment expensing provisions, farmers are pretty much out of the market for new equipment. Tariffs on steel have increased the cost of grain storage. All of this has impacted the rural economy.

“United States Soybean Production.” USDA- FAS, International Production Assessment Division.

“USDA has stepped in over the past two years and Illinois farmers have received roughly dollar for dollar in Market Facilitation Program payments what we have lost in exports to China.”

And Mr. Guebert added that, “We recognize that China is managing through a deadly coronavirus outbreak, that the purchases called for in the agreement have not happened yet, and that USDA economists have not even built those anticipated Phase I sales into their export reports,

“We certainly know the markets have yet to move.

“But farmers are optimistic. We understand that we’re just at the beginning of an exciting new chapter and we patiently await the benefits of this new trade agreement.”

Source: Keith Good, Farm Policy News