World Grain - February 2011 - 66

FEATURE

IGC
T
he International Grains Council (IGC) predicted during its International Grains Forum on Dec. 8 in Perth Australia that world grain supplies will tighten in 2010-11 as production of wheat, maize and barley falls short of forecast consumption. However, the slowing growth of industrial use, especially of maize used for ethanol in the U.S., will limit the rise in grains consumption to 1.5%, down from the previous year’s 2%. More than 200 delegates attended the forum co-hosted by the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Western Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Food. Following an opening address by Joe Ludwig, Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 10 international and national speakers provided a range of perspectives on the main issues facing the global grains economy as well as on world food security concerns. Members noted the latest developments in the global grains industry, especially the sharp increases in prices seen since the IGC last met in June 2010 in London, and the continuing day-to-day volatility in the main exchanges in recent months, only partly attributable to changes in market fundamentals. The substantial fall in output in the CIS, especially in Russia, is expected to lead to a shift of around 30 million tonnes in wheat and barley exports to other suppliers, notably the U.S., the E.U., and Argentina. World trade in grains was placed at 241 million tonnes, marginally above the previous year. Wheat trade is set to fall in 201011, but this will likely be offset by increased maize shipments. Having risen by 120 million tonnes in the previous three years, global carryover stocks of grain in 2010-11 are expected to decline by some 60 million tonnes, half of this due to tightening maize supplies. As to the outlook for 2011-12, the global wheat area is projected to increase by 2%, partly in response to higher prices but also reﬂecting reduced abandonment in Canada and Russia after this year’s extreme summer weather conditions. The area likely to be planted to maize for the next U.S. crop will crucially depend on the price relationship with soybeans.
66

meets in Australia
by Arvin Donley

Speakers say global grain supplies are expected to tighten in 2011 as production will fall short of consumption
The IGC also examined the secretariat’s latest ﬁve-year supply and demand projections which, for the ﬁrst time, included rice. For grains (excluding rice) it was noted that despite recent crop problems, grain availabilities are actually higher than forecast a year ago. However, consumption projections are also lifted, and stocks are expected to show some further decline from those forecast at the end of 2010-11. Maize supplies, in particular, are likely to tighten. An average annual rise of 2% in world trade in grains is projected between now and 2015-16. With regard to rice, world supplies and demand are expected to remain broadly in balance over this period, with yield improvements likely to raise output and with consumption rising in line with population. World stocks are projected to increase slightly over the period, and trade is expected to increase by some 5 million tonnes, driven mainly by demand from Asia and Africa. Members took particular note of this year’s unusual weather conditions in Australia. Although wheat production is ofﬁcially placed at a record, a severe drought in Western Australia had resulted in sharply reduced yields, while in eastern states excessive rains will lead to considerable downgrading of the crop. During its 32nd annual session on Dec. 7, the IGC considered the latest developments in the global grains and oilseeds industries, the medium-term supply and demand outlook, recent changes in national policies and various
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World Grain - February 2011

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