mmdeinternational.com - Ohio Farmer Eyes Philippine Partnership in Corn & Ethanol Trade 🌽🤝💧

A farm in rural Montgomery County, Ohio recently hosted a trade delegation from the Philippines as part of a broader initiative by the Ohio Corn & Wheat (OCW) and the U.S. Grains Council to expand U.S. agricultural export markets. The visit was timed to allow the Filipino delegation to see the U.S. corn value chain up close — from harvest through export logistics. They visited the Nathan Leis’s family farm and observed processes such as container loading, rail transport, barge handling via the Ohio River, and other export‑infrastructure steps. 

The Philippines, now home to around 119 million people, faces a significant corn‐supply challenge: despite corn production, the available acreage and yield are not sufficient to meet domestic demand, especially for livestock feed and industrial uses. 

This means Ohio and other U.S. corn‑producing states stand to benefit not only from grain export but also from growth opportunities in the ethanol sector and its co‑products.

The visit underscores that Ohio’s corn fits global demand‐especially markets with feed/food deficits. Understanding logistics (rail, barge, container) is key — the delegation’s field visits highlight Ohio’s export infrastructure as a strength. Ethanol production, feed co‑products (such as dried distillers grains), and sustainability practices add appeal to U.S. grain buyers abroad. While the market looks promising, Ohio farmers must stay competitive on price, quality, sustainability, and logistics to seize these opportunities.

With the Filipino government showing interest in higher ethanol blends (E20) and addressing feed‑grain gaps, U.S. corn exporters like Ohio are positioning themselves as trusted and reliable suppliers. The current strategy builds on relationship‑building (trade teams, site visits) rather than just transactional export sales.

If these trends persist, Ohio’s ag‑sector could see expanded exports of both corn and ethanol‐related products to the Philippines and potentially other Southeast Asian markets.