In their monthly report on global grain markets, economists at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) released last week said there’s reason to believe U.S. corn, barley and sorghum exports will increase considerably in the new year. Driven primarily by China and increases in that nation’s domestic corn market prices, corn sales overseas are expected to rise seven percent, while barley sales are expected to grow six percent in 2021. Sorghum imports by overseas trading partners are expected to surge 53%, driven largely by activity in China in buying more of that crop as a lower-cost substitute for corn. Underpinning that demand is growing feed demand for China’s livestock sector, primarily efforts to rebuild the nation’s hog herd. Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Mexico are among the other export partners likely to contribute to the increase in 2021. See more.