The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) says it is keeping a close eye on Japan as it begins the recovery process from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. While no official reports on total grain trade impact have been made known to the USGC, major importing facilities in northern mainland Japan have been severely damaged by the natural disaster, causing some to be nonoperational for the time being.
The affected area accounts for roughly 30% of Japan’s 25-million-metric-ton (mmt) total compound feed production capacity. While the extent of actual damage is still being assessed, much of the damaged capacity is being covered by facilities coming back online and by increased production by feedmills in unaffected areas.
“Buyers have asked to channel vessels to other ports or feed mills unharmed by the natural disaster,” says Mike Callahan, USGC senior director of international operations.
“In addition, there are current plans to increase production at unaffected mills and ports and transport the products to the affected areas. The immediate challenges will be the availability of boats, uncertainty of inland road conditions and fuel supply issues.”
Energy and fuel shortages are critical issues impacting the poultry and livestock producers in affected areas. “Farms typically hold a limited supply of feed on hand. The resumption of reliable and normal feed delivery to these farms is critical to the health and welfare of the animals. Moving the animals off the farm is also hindered by road conditions and lack of fuel,” says Tommy Hamamoto, USGC director in Japan. “In addition, some processing plants and milking facilities have sustained damage and lack the ability to operate at full capacity.”
Hiroko Sakashita, USGC associate director in Japan adds that “feed mills are collaborating and coordinating feed production to cover all critical animal sectors. While it is unclear how long the recovery process will take, Japan has a nimble, well-prepared agricultural economy. It has good market resilience and usually recovers from outbreaks of disease and natural disasters."
U.S. Wheat Associates says the U.S. exported about 3.3 mmt (about 130 million bushels) of wheat to Japan, close to $900 million worth. USGC says that in 2010, Japan imported roughly 15.5 mmt (610 million bushels) of U.S. corn, valued at more than $3 billion. Japan is the largest U.S. corn export market, accounting for approximately 30% of annual U.S. corn export sales. The nation imported nearly 700,000 metric tons (mt) (28 million bushels) of U.S. sorghum, valued at $127 million. Japan captures roughly 27% of the U.S. sorghum export market making it the second-largest U.S. export market behind Mexico.
It imported approximately 12,000 mt (551,000 bu.) of U.S. barley, valued at more than $2.7 million. Japan takes approximately 42% of the U.S. barley export market and is the second-largest behind Canada. In addition, Japan imported approximately 218,000 mt of U.S. distillers’ dried grains with solubles, valued at more than $38 million.