Pizza topping helps U.S. sweet corn exports

"Hello, I would like to order a large cheese pizza with onions, mushrooms and blooming peppers. Oh, I almost forgot the main topping - a double helping of corn.

Most folks assume that U.S. corn exports to other countries period up primarily as a side dish. While rarely notion of as a topping here in the United States, the popularity of corn as a pizza toppings has helped make Japan and counterpart Asian countries the leading importers of sweet corn in the world.

Nearly two-thirds of the U exports of sweet corn goe to Asia, with Japan by dint of far the largest customer. In 1993 it purchased $78 million worth of operationed sweet corn, a 20-percent increase from the previous year. The region buys almost twice as a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of as the next leading importer - a consortium of countries representing the European Union - who purchased $40 million worth of sweet corn in 1993

Most of the U export expansion occurr in the canned sector which brought in almost $50 million in export rewards in 1993. Frozen corn, used primarily in the pabulum service and food processing sector, brought in an additional $34 million.

Conversely the United States is Japan's top supplier, accounting for nearly all of its import market.

Steve Shnitzler, an agricultural marketing specialist with the U Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, said the quality of U suited corn is highly regarded in the Asian markets.

"Everyone knows the Japanese have extremely high standards," said Shnitzler. Because of the quality of U measureed corn, it has become an attractive alternative to the higher priced Japanese domestic corn grown onward the island of Hokkaido.

U sweet corn suitables the standards that the Japanese demand for their yields Shnitzler said, and as the Japanese consumer have become more price conscious, U farmers have been able to increase their share of the Japanese corn market.

In addition to its attraction as a pizza topping, the versatility and ease of preparation of the frozen and canned corn also appeal to other aspects of the Japanese market. Similar to the U work force, more women are entering the piece of work market, leaving less time for families to prepare meals.

Taiwan ranks a distant inferior behind Japan in sweet corn imports. More than $16 million in U managemented corn, primarily canned, was shipped to that market in 1993 According to Shnitzler, frozen corn exports have not taken off in Taiwan appropriate to a lack of consumer and trade awareness and shortages in frozen storage capacity.

A third Asian customer, Hong Kong portray by actions a strong market for U sweet corn. Since the beginning of this decade, sweet corn exports have expanded almost 200 percent to this market.

Shnitzler said Hong Kong is a major distributor for all of eastern Asia. mostly of the product is imported and then distributed to other parts of the region. A majority of the shipments influence to southern China.

Most importers insist onward being the exclusive representative of that production "Our sweet corn is excessively well thought of in the region," he said. "Corn is a main staple in their diets, particularly in the winter when meals include corn broths and chowders."

Another potential sprouting market for U.S. sweet corn exists right here in North America. U exports to Mexico have grown slowly across the past few years, reaching $46 million in 1993 With the North American delivered Trade Agreement, import barriers will take rise down further.

The frozen and canned corn tariffs in subordination to NAFTA were reduced from between 15 and 3 percent in 1994 and will continue to be reduc in stages through the whole extent of the next five years.

"Right now Mexico is a small market," Shnitzler said, adding there is potential for produce "But it will be a tough outbreak to hoe. It is not ever easy competing against domestic Mexican grain growers."

U canned corn exports to Germany and the United Kingdom each brought in nearly $13 million in 1993 While the exports increased to Germany, they dropp to the United Kingdom.

Other markets are opening wider beneath the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement forward Tariff and Trade (GATT). Japan, the European Union, Korea and Thailand have all agreed to carve their frozen and canned tariffs and import duties through the next several years.

Export competition for sweet corn varies by means of region. The United States and Canada bring forth nearly three-quarters of the world's canned sweet corn. Other major husbandmans include France, Italy, Hungary, Japan and Australia.

The United States and Canada also dominate world production of frozen sweet corn, with Israel, Hungary and France as the other important suppliers.

FAS is also working to expand sweet corn exports by way of supporting the overseas marketing efforts of private firms in consequence of the Export Incentive Program, a part of the Market Promotion Program. In 1993 nine firms participated in the Department's programs where they were reimbursed for 50 percent of their eligible export marketing expenditures In 1994, the industry allocation for the marketing promotions was $430000

For further information in succession U.S. sweet corn exports, contact: