Sorghum production and trade in Latin America

The sorghum industry in Latin America is experiencing significant shifts driven by agricultural research, economic pressures, and new trade opportunities. In Argentina, trials in Misiones Province have evaluated various commercial sorghum cultivars to determine optimal yields for forage and grain, noting that cultivar selection must be tailored to specific producer goals.

In Mexico, the situation is polarized. In Tamaulipas, producers face a sharp decline in sorghum planting due to high production costs and low grain prices, with cultivated areas dropping to roughly half of pre-2018 levels. Conversely, in Sinaloa, authorities have moved toward a major export strategy with China.

Sinaloa has initiated a major commercial expansion by exporting its first shipment of sorghum to China. The initial shipment, consisting of five containers, departed from the Port of Topolobampo to undergo quality and sanitary inspections by Chinese industrial evaluators. This move is part of a larger agreement with the Sichuan Yourong Group to potentially export up to 1.2 million tons of sorghum for the production of the traditional spirit baijiu.

Representatives from the Chinese company noted that the Sinaloan sorghum showed high quality, including ‘nearly zero tannin content’, which is highly valued in their market. Sinaloa Governor Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde stated that this market opening provides new profitability alternatives for local producers, potentially benefiting over 10,000 farmers. The project aims to diversify the region's agricultural exports beyond corn and wheat by establishing long-term contract farming schemes to provide certainty to producers.