Japan: Japanese brewers concerned about ethanol, biotech impact

Japan beer brewers are concerned about the impact of the ethanol industry and U.S. corn supply on their industry, according to Illinois Farm Bureau, September 14.

Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council senior director in Japan, recently met with the Brewers Association of Japan to discuss the impact of U.S. ethanol production on corn supply and the availability of non-biotech corn.

“Japan’s beer industry is a major end-user of corn products, such as corn starch and corn sweeteners produced by the Japanese corn starch industry from imported U.S. corn,” said Sifferath.

He noted the Japanese beer industry demands starch and sweeteners made from non-biotech corn.

“With 73 percent of planted acres in the United States being biotech, the Japanese beer industry is concerned about current and future supplies of non-GM corn from the United States,” he said.

In addition to discussing the overall U.S. corn supply and demand outlook, he shared an overview of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry and outlook for U.S. non-biotech corn production.

The brewers realize the U.S. will continue to be a major corn producer, but remain worried about prices for U.S. corn and future costs of non-biotech corn, according to Sifferath.

Japan, the largest U.S. corn customer, has imported 1.6 million metric tons, or 64.8 million bushels, of U.S. corn for starch between January and June — 95.8 percent of Japan’s total corn for starch imports for the period.

14 September, 2007