Wisconsin Ag Connection - National/World News - Japan Tenders 20,000 Tons of U.S. Feed Barley

National & World Ag News Headlines

Japan Tenders 20,000 Tons of U.S. Feed Barley
USAgNet - 11/03/2009

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held a Simultaneous Buy and Sell program for feed barley late last month, where they tendered 20,000 metric tons (919,000 bushels) of U.S. feed barley. The feed market in Japan is particularly price driven. With the 2009 U.S. barley harvest complete, an increase in inventory has allowed U.S. exports to be both feasible and price competitive.

According to Hiroko Sakashita, U.S. Grains Council associate director in Japan, price and availability of U.S. barley were key factors in this recent tender.

"Barley is a vital feed ingredient to the production of high quality beef and pork in Japan," said Sakashita. "The Council has been continuously promoting U.S. feed barley as a valuable ingredient in the Japanese livestock sector."

In support of these promotional efforts, a team of barley buyers traveled to the United States this past August to visit the major barley producing regions in the country, introducing the team members to U.S. growers and traders, while seeing the progress of the current year's crop.

"The organization that tendered the U.S. barley on Oct. 21 was represented on the barley team. The company's participant said the trip was 'timely' for him to be introduced to key U.S. barley growers and suppliers, with close communications continued after the trip allowing him to get more information about the availability of U.S. feed barley leading up to this sale.' As a result of the contacts made on this trip and other USGC promotions, the Council is optimistic these relationships will continue to increase the sale of U.S. barley to Japan, allowing it to maintain its place as the United States' number one barley importer.

Don Fast, USGC secretary and Montana barley producer, said the brewing industry, human consumption and feed use help maintain the value of U.S. barley. Growers in the United States need a diverse market for their product and Japan is a valued customer.