Last December, South Africa opened its market to United States corn for the first time in a decade by lifting biotech restrictions that had kept the market closed. This month the South African government issued 15 permits authorizing the importation of 1.3 million metric tons of U.S. corn. South Dakota Corn Grower’s President Keith Alverson says that’s a positive move for America’s corn growers.

He credits the hard work of the U.S. Grains Council in helping open that market for the U.S. corn industry.

South Africa’s feed industry was forced to import corn in 2015 and 2016 as a result of a drought in the country. Alverson says the U.S. being a reliable supplier was ready to meet their needs.

Besides purchasing U.S. corn, South Africa also purchased roughly 45,000 metric tons of U.S. sorghum.