U.S. Sorghum Potential in Southeast Asia
Sorghum is exceptionally well-suited for the tropical conditions in Southeast Asia because of its low vulnerability to molds and mycotoxins and physical characteristics that allow it to be stored longer.
Two factors contribute to its current low use levels in the region, according to Adel Yusupov, U.S. Grains Council regional director in Southeast Asia, who recently completed a 10-day sorghum promotion “road show” in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Competitive pricing and consistent supply is a barrier,” he said, noting that prices for Argentine sorghum with less than 1.5 percent tannin were recently $45 per metric ton below Argentine corn and $54 per metric ton cheaper than U.S. sorghum in containers. Major competition in the region comes from “combo” shipments of Argentine corn and sorghum, which enjoy an additional advantage from feed millers’ preference for Argentine corn over U.S. corn.
A second barrier, according to Yusupov, is regional consumers’ preference for very yellow yolks, fat and skin in swine and poultry products.
“It would be difficult to convince poultry or pig producers to switch to sorghum, which produces whiter fat in pigs and paler poultry,” he said. “In contrast, there is not the same preference in fish fillets, and the Council believes this is a ready niche market opportunity for sorghum in Southeast Asia.”
He believes progress on sorghum use in the region can be achieved by promoting sorghum to aquaculture feed producers and nutritionists and by work with the U.S. trade to promote a sorghum container shipping program.
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is currently funding research at Kansas State University that has led to the development of aquaculture pellets. The pellets are currently being tested at Auburn University for production efficiency, and samples will be sent to Southeast Asia in hopes of further developing that market potential.