CHINA’S imports of sorghum rose sharply in April from a year earlier, customs data showed yesterday, as buyers brought in large volumes of the feed grain ahead of the country’s anti-dumping decision made at the peak of Sino-U.S. trade tensions.

China imported 640,000 tons of sorghum in April, up 87 percent from a year ago, ahead of an anti-dumping deposit announced by China on April 17 after a two-month investigation. The country imports almost all of its sorghum from the United States.

April sorghum imports were up 12.3 percent from March’s 570,014 tons, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

China dropped the U.S. sorghum probe and anti-dumping deposit last week as the two sides held talks to resolve trade tensions.

Shipments of barley, used in feed and brewing, and an alternative to sorghum, rose 2.6 percent in April from last year’s 1.1 million tons to 1.12 million tons, and were up 30.2 percent from 860,000 tons in March.

China’s pork imports fell 19 percent in April from March to 110,098 tons, but were still up 3.4 percent year on year. Imports were also pushed down by falling domestic pork prices, analysts said.

China bought 560,000 tons of fresh and dried fruits and nuts in April, up 31.6 percent from the previous year.

Imports of logs in April dropped 11.4 percent year on year to 4.21 million cubic meters.

China bought 380,000 tons of corn in April, more than six times the 60,000 tons imported in March, having imported zero corn in April 2017.

Sugar imports rose 140.5 percent year on year to 470,000 tons in April, also up 23.7 percent from 380,000 tons in March, as some shipments delayed earlier arrived.(SD-Agencies)