US seeks to increase corn and soybean exports to Spain

Spain, as the leading importer of feed grains and related products in the European Union, is a strategic partner for the United States with great potential for export growth, the United States Grain Council (USGC) announced after a recent visit to the country. In the 2024-2025 marketing year, Spain ranks fifth among importers of US corn, purchasing 2.3 million tons.

In early May, Ana Ballesteros, USGC’s deputy regional director for Europe and the Middle East, visited Madrid and Barcelona to explore opportunities to expand exports of US sorghum, corn and related products. In Madrid, together with USGC consultant Loyola Toran, she met with key players in the agri-food and feed sectors to assess current and projected feed production and import potential. These meetings helped the Council refine marketing strategies for the Spanish market.

In Barcelona, ​​Ballesteros participated in the Seafood Expo, the world’s largest seafood trade show, which annually attracts more than 35,000 professionals from 150 countries. The event offers opportunities to promote U.S. dried grain residues (DDGS) and fermented corn proteins (CFP) in aquaculture feeds. The USGC sees potential for integrating these products into Spain’s growing aquaculture sector. Ballesteros also spoke at the Barcelona Grain Exchange, where she presented the potential of sorghum in the European market to an audience of around 60 people, including the largest importers and end-users of feed grains in Spain. Her presentation highlighted the importance of U.S. feed grains following significant shipments of corn and DDGS to Spain in 2023-2024. According to Ballesteros, active engagement with key players in developed markets such as Spain demonstrates USGC’s commitment to maintaining a high level of trade service for American farmers.

Tags: corn, USA