China Said to Refuse More Than 500,000 Tons of U.S. Corn

Bulk loading of corn. Photo by GrainCorp

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) — China has rejected more than half a million metric tons of genetically modified U.S. corn in November and December, almost three times the amount it previously announced, said three people with knowledge of the issue.

At least nine Panamax-sized vessels, each carrying about 60,000 tons of insect-resistant MIR 162 grain, have been refused, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential. State-owned COFCO Corp. bought the first seven of the nine cargoes, one official said.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in Beijing didn’t return a faxed request for an interview. Two calls to the mobile phone of COFCO’s spokesman, Yin Jianhao, weren’t answered.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture on Dec. 6 said it rejected the grain because its safety is under review. The quarantine agency, which reported about 180,000 tons as of Dec. 4, yesterday said more had been found, without giving a figure.

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg.