BEIJING, CHINA – Chinese feed mills are using less corn as cheaper wheat, barley and sorghum gain ground in livestock rations, adding another challenge for U.S. grain exporters, according to USDA’s Beijing office.
The share of corn in compound feed fell from 47% in January to 29% in August. USDA says deep losses in hog production are encouraging feed users to seek lower-cost substitutes and are reducing demand from the swine sector.
Wheat, barley and sorghum are increasingly replacing corn when price relationships favor substitution. Total grain feed and residual use for 2026/27 is forecast at 292.2 million metric tons, nearly unchanged from the previous year.
China’s breeding sow herd fell 6.5% from a year earlier to 37.8 million head at the end of the second quarter. Poultry, aquaculture and ruminant feed demand are expected to offset part of the hog-sector decline.
USDA expects competitive pricing and domestic grain availability to remain major drivers of China’s feed choices and import demand.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Lower corn inclusion in Chinese feed could limit export opportunities unless U.S. grain regains a stronger price advantage.