The Brazilian government is due to sign a hygiene equivalence protocol with china, based on a risk analysis of pests and disease, which will make it possible to export more maize to the Chinese market, official Brazilian news agency Agência Estado reported.

Noting that an official mission from China had been in Brazil in March to analyse the production system in order to move ahead with the proposal, the agency said that the document would be signed during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20.

Both the government and Brazilian farmers are expectantly awaiting a decision from China as the country, which is the largest global importer of soy, may, in the long term, also become the biggest market for maize.

According to figures from the United States Department for Agriculture Chinese maize imports were marginal until two years ago, but since 2011 the country imported 5 million tons and this year is expected to import a total of 7 million tons.

The list of the world’s largest maize exporters is headed by the United States, with 48.26 million tons, from a total harvest of 375.6 million tons, followed by Argentina, wit exports of 16 million tons of the 25 million tons it produces, the countries in the Russian Federation produce 35 million tons and export 14.8 million tons and the Ukraine produces 24 million tons and exports 14 million.

The US Department for Agriculture expects Brazil’s maize exports to total 12 million tons this year whilst Brazil’s Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (Conab) projects exports of 11 million tons. (macauhub)