Organic whole and cracked corn imports reached a combined 32,000 metric tons (mt) in May, a 40% increase from May 2018, according to Mercaris’ monthly report.  

While organic whole corn imports increased slightly in May from the prior month, reaching an estimated 4,000 mt, they remained below 2018 levels. Additionally, Mercaris has revised April’s organic whole corn import volumes following the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official trade data for the month. Following the upward revision in April’s organic cracked corn figures, imports for the month of May reached 28,000 mt, an 8% increase from April’s upward revised data.

Organic soybean imports slowed substantially in May, according to Mercaris’ estimates, at 4,800 mt, the lowest level since November 2011.

“Initial trade data suggests that only two countries, India and Canada, had shipments arrive at U.S. ports in the month of May,” Mercaris relayed.

Meanwhile, organic soybean meal maritime imports over the month of May declined by 20% from the prior month, to just below 31,000 mt. Despite the decline, May’s import volumes were the third largest on record and exceeded last year’s imports by 137%.