Mixed bag for coarse grain prices in India, prices in US tumble
Maize prices are stable at the market yard at Rs.8000 – 8100 per MT, The prices are about 20% higher than last year prices. The above are average prices, pan India, but in some production areas delivered prices are ranging from Rs.10,000 – 10500 per MT. With these prices in the local markets, export of corn may not be feasible, but the prices are unlikely to go down much and may hover close to the MSP value of Rs.8400 per MT. Maize at the NCDEX was quoting at prices Rs.8250 – 8425 per MT, while in the SPOT markets the value was ranging from Rs.9050 at Karimnagar and Rs.9530 at Davangere.
Pearl Millet (Bajra) prices were up this week by 11% and RS.7960 per MT and also are up 19.2% against maize. The differential with maize is only 1.3%.
Sorghum (Jowar) prices went down by 1% to Rs.9300 per MT at the market yard. And are 4.5% lower than last year. Possibly this is the first time sorghum prices are lower than last year. Against maize, the prices are higher by 13.2%.
Barley prices were also down by 5.2% to level at Rs.9250 per MT and are down by 18.2% against last year.
Corn prices were again down this week to $146.68 per MT for Dec 08 and 152.98 per MT for Mar 09. The prices are lower than last week’s close by about 7.5%. This would also mean that the corn delivered to SEA markets would be close to $220 and local corn is delivered in India at some feed mills at $210 per MT (Dollar has breached the Rs.50 per dollar mark).
Corn as health food
A research conducted jointly by North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) at the Department of Food Science, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. has found that milled corn products are a good source of “Carotenoids”, the consumption of which is associated with decreased risk of several chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disorders and age-related macular degeneration.
Carotenoids are a class of natural fat-soluble pigments found principally in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, where they play a critical role in the photosynthetic process.
In human beings, carotenoids can serve several important functions. The most widely studied and well-understood nutritional role for carotenoids is their provitamin A activity.
Carotenoids also play an important potential role in human health by acting as biological antioxidants, protecting cells and tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals and singlet oxygen.
The research found that:
1. Milled corn products are a good source of carotenoids, containing 90-350 micrograms per 100 grams food.
2. Corn carotenoids are highly bioaccessible (>50%). Bioaccessibility is a solid estimate of bioavailability, which is the amount of nutrients available to the body after digestion, researchers noted. The carotenoids can be found from corn-based foods, including corn bread, wet cooked grits and extruded products.
3. Absolute bioaccessibility is generally proportional to starting food content.
4. Relative bioaccessibility is slightly higher than other fruits and vegetables.
5. The presence of added fiber (typical negative effector) from whole grain does not appear to limit carotenoid bioaccessibility.
Researchers also noted the following opportunities milled corn products showed for food design:
a. Delivery of a biological antioxidant.
b. Easily formulated into snacks, cereals and other foodstuffs.
c. Bioaccessibility is high in model food processing systems.
Adopted from www.world-grain.com)
More DDGS from US corn ethanol industry
New reports indicate that the U.S. ethanol industry will continue its growth trajectory in 2009 as well and produce 31.3 MMT of DDGS in the marketing year 2008/09 which can be used by the animal feed industry. About 22 .8 million tons of DDGS were available for global use in 2007/2008 marketing year (Oct – Sept). In 2008, ethanol production was 35.2 billion liters of ethanol, which is likely to grow to 45 billion liters by 2009.
Almost all the South East Asian countries are importing DDGS and are using it effectively. Until now Thailand has imported 102,000 MT, thanks to a robust growth in the poultry industry by 8%. A large part of the growth in the poultry industry can be attributed to strong demand from Japan and Europe.
Other countries in the region, which are importing DDGS and are using it in poultry rations include Philippines 64,000 MT; Vietnam 80,000 MT and Indonesia 70,000 MT.
Maize prices are stable at the market yard at Rs.8000 – 8100 per MT, The prices are about 20% higher than last year prices. The above are average prices, pan India, but in some production areas delivered prices are ranging from Rs.10,000 – 10500 per MT. With these prices in the local markets, export of corn may not be feasible, but the prices are unlikely to go down much and may hover close to the MSP value of Rs.8400 per MT. Maize at the NCDEX was quoting at prices Rs.8250 – 8425 per MT, while in the SPOT markets the value was ranging from Rs.9050 at Karimnagar and Rs.9530 at Davangere.
Pearl Millet (Bajra) prices were up this week by 11% and RS.7960 per MT and also are up 19.2% against maize. The differential with maize is only 1.3%.
Sorghum (Jowar) prices went down by 1% to Rs.9300 per MT at the market yard. And are 4.5% lower than last year. Possibly this is the first time sorghum prices are lower than last year. Against maize, the prices are higher by 13.2%.
Barley prices were also down by 5.2% to level at Rs.9250 per MT and are down by 18.2% against last year.
Corn prices were again down this week to $146.68 per MT for Dec 08 and 152.98 per MT for Mar 09. The prices are lower than last week’s close by about 7.5%. This would also mean that the corn delivered to SEA markets would be close to $220 and local corn is delivered in India at some feed mills at $210 per MT (Dollar has breached the Rs.50 per dollar mark).
Corn as health food
A research conducted jointly by North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) at the Department of Food Science, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. has found that milled corn products are a good source of “Carotenoids”, the consumption of which is associated with decreased risk of several chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disorders and age-related macular degeneration.
Carotenoids are a class of natural fat-soluble pigments found principally in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, where they play a critical role in the photosynthetic process.
In human beings, carotenoids can serve several important functions. The most widely studied and well-understood nutritional role for carotenoids is their provitamin A activity.
Carotenoids also play an important potential role in human health by acting as biological antioxidants, protecting cells and tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals and singlet oxygen.
The research found that:
1. Milled corn products are a good source of carotenoids, containing 90-350 micrograms per 100 grams food.
2. Corn carotenoids are highly bioaccessible (>50%). Bioaccessibility is a solid estimate of bioavailability, which is the amount of nutrients available to the body after digestion, researchers noted. The carotenoids can be found from corn-based foods, including corn bread, wet cooked grits and extruded products.
3. Absolute bioaccessibility is generally proportional to starting food content.
4. Relative bioaccessibility is slightly higher than other fruits and vegetables.
5. The presence of added fiber (typical negative effector) from whole grain does not appear to limit carotenoid bioaccessibility.
Researchers also noted the following opportunities milled corn products showed for food design:
a. Delivery of a biological antioxidant.
b. Easily formulated into snacks, cereals and other foodstuffs.
c. Bioaccessibility is high in model food processing systems.
Adopted from www.world-grain.com)
More DDGS from US corn ethanol industry
New reports indicate that the U.S. ethanol industry will continue its growth trajectory in 2009 as well and produce 31.3 MMT of DDGS in the marketing year 2008/09 which can be used by the animal feed industry. About 22 .8 million tons of DDGS were available for global use in 2007/2008 marketing year (Oct – Sept). In 2008, ethanol production was 35.2 billion liters of ethanol, which is likely to grow to 45 billion liters by 2009.
Almost all the South East Asian countries are importing DDGS and are using it effectively. Until now Thailand has imported 102,000 MT, thanks to a robust growth in the poultry industry by 8%. A large part of the growth in the poultry industry can be attributed to strong demand from Japan and Europe.
Other countries in the region, which are importing DDGS and are using it in poultry rations include Philippines 64,000 MT; Vietnam 80,000 MT and Indonesia 70,000 MT.
Amit Sachdev
India Representative
U S Grains Council
bluecross303@gmail.com
