The United States produces roughly 15 million metric tons (590 million bushels) of grain sorghum each year, 55 percent of which is destined for export. In the recent past, China has imported more than 70 percent of U.S. exportable sorghum supply, but trade policy challenges, increased local production and competing feed sources have prompted efforts to diversify the sorghum customer base. Southeast Asia has the potential to be one of those new demand sources.
In 2017, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) went on the road to highlight the potential of U.S. sorghum to supply the growing aquaculture industry of Southeast Asia.
This effort began with the Council operating in-country feeding trials to test the viability of replacing cassava with sorghum in Pangasius, a large catfish species native to Southeast Asia diets. Annual catfish production in Vietnam alone is 2.4 million tons.
If successful, Vietnam could be a potential sorghum market for up to 480,000 tons (18 million bushels) of U.S. sorghum with an export value of $101.7 million per year.
The trials concluded that U.S. sorghum is an excellent replacement for cassava as a source of starch for feeding Pangasius. The feeding trial results showed no difference between cassava and U.S. sorghum on catfish growth performance, fillet color or physical properties of feed pellet quality. Beyond starch, sorghum is also low in tannins and contains an advantageous protein profile.
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