China set to become corn importer despite corn ethanol ban

China is set to become a corn importer, despite halting all corn ethanol related development projects. The USDA estimates that China has a 35 million ton corn stockpile, but China is expected to be a net importer after recording exports of 16 million tons in 2003. Currently, ethanol producers such as Henan Tianguan Enterprise Group have switched to a blend of 60 percent wheat, 20 percent corn, 10 percent cassava and 10 percent sweet potato, to meet China’s goal of producing 6.7 million tons of ethanol fuel (2 billion gallons). At 20 percent usage of corn, China will require 4 million tons of corn to meet its ethanol targets.

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