Food aid purchases of US milled products soar

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Agency for International Development (USAID) bought 152,620 tonnes of milled products this year, up from 54,540 tonnes purchased in fiscal year 2023. The increase in value terms was also substantial as $151.8 million was purchased in 2024, more than double the prior year’s $72.4 million.

NAMA said its support for additional funding for food aid played a major role in the increase.

“NAMA’s lobbying for broader participation by USDA in international food aid programming resulted in $1 billion for additional Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to purchase US commodities for international distribution,” NAMA said. “The additional food aid deliveries are being used to support global supply chains that were disrupted by ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Central Africa.”

Most of the government’s milled product purchases were for corn meal (110,250 tonnes, $83 million) and corn-soy blend (39,020 tonnes, $66.4 million), NAMA said. Only $14.5 million of corn meal was purchased in 2023. While a large portion of the CCC funding was used for bulk products like wheat, sorghum, and rice, 47,800 tonnes of corn meal valued at $37.4 million was purchased using the CCC funds, it said.

The government also bought about 2.5 tonnes of bulgur and 1 tonne of wheat flour, NAMA said.