Grain Consumption in Aug. 2013

By CnAgri2013-10-12 11:28:15 Print

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, grain consumption declined in Aug. on the year-on-year basis because of falling feed production and slowdown of grain consumption for industrial uses. But grain inventory and safety index went up in Aug. on the year-on-year basis.
 
22.88 million MT grains were consumed for food use in Aug., including 8.242 million MT by rural households, 6.548 million MT by urban households and 8.09 million MT by the catering industry, down 3.43%, 5.37%, 1% and 3.33% respectively on the year-on-year basis. Grain consumption for food use totaled 184 million MT in Jan. ~ Aug., a growth of 3.58% on the year-on-year basis.
 
Grain consumption for feed use was 15.5 million MT in Aug. and 110 million MT in Jan. ~ Aug., down 3.35% and 0.39% respectively on the year-on-year basis.
 
Grain consumption for industrial uses was 6.566 million MT in Aug., 5.94% more than the month before. Grain consumption for such uses totaled 56.3 million MT in Jan. ~ Aug.
 
Grain consumption for alcohol production was 3.554 million MT in Aug. and 29.758 million MT in Jan. ~ Aug., up 3.64% and 6.22% respectively on the year-on-year basis. 3.01 million MT grains were consumed for the production of 2.018 million MT starch.
 
Corn, starch and ethanol prices were RMB2,415/MT, RMB2,941/MT and RMB5,745/MT respectively in Aug., down 0.6%, 2.34% and 9.33% respectively on the year-on-year basis, adjusted for currency value change. Starch and ethanol production generated a profit rate of 4.14% and –8.97% respectively. Low returns hindered corn-processing industry’s corn consumption.
 
Grain consumption for various uses totaled 46.766 million MT in Aug. Grain inventory and safety index were 334 million MT and 7.15 respectively at the end of Aug.
 
The inventory consisted of 102.7 million MT paddy, 66.15 million MT corn, 122 million MT wheat, 2.011 million MT barley and 41.77 million MT others. Of the total inventory, 141 million MT were state reserve, 91.88 million MT on-farm stock and 58.49 million MT other stock.
 
Planted grain acreage, grain production and grain imports are estimated to be 111.3 million hectares, 594.9 million MT and 16.3 million MT respectively in 2013. Year-end inventory and safety index are predicted to be 252 million MT and 42.14% respectively.

From “China Grains Market Weekly Report”