COFCO International Limited (CIL) and GROWMARK, Inc. are delighted to announce the creation of a new grain partnership, bringing together the robust farmer cooperative network of GROWMARK with the global trading power of CIL to develop an extensive supply chain, directly linking the farmers from the richest food production areas of North America to the global feed and food industry, including its largest demand market, China.
The partnership includes joint ownership and operation of the barge, truck and rail terminal at Cahokia, IL. with frontage on the Mississippi River, as well as a grain origination agreement. GROWMARK will staff a grain merchandiser in CIL's St. Louis office to service patron accounts and originate grain.
"The partnership positions the GROWMARK System for expanded access to value-added grain markets," said Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK CEO. "U.S. agriculture exports to China totaled $21 billion in 2016; it is the world's largest importer of soybeans, and is consistently ranked as our second largest agricultural export market."Brent Ericson, GROWMARK Senior Vice President, Member Business, said, "The partnership provides new markets for our members and farmers and opens strategic partnerships around the world. We believe Cahokia will play a key role in originating grain for the international markets driving global demand, and provide a win-win situation for both organizations."
Johnny Chi, the CEO of COFCO International said, "CIL aims to be and be recognized as a world-class global agri-business. A partnership with the second largest agricultural supply and grain cooperative in the United States links COFCO to the growers of the largest grain exporting region in the United States. We strongly believe COFCO / GROWMARK will be a successful win-win venture. CIL's focus on global grain trading and its commitment to the U.S. ag market will provide GROWMARK's farmers with a sustainable export demand for their production."
CIL's Cahokia facility, at mile marker 176 on the Upper Mississippi River, receives grain and grain byproducts via rail and truck for transloading to barges destined for export. The facility has 6 truck receiving lanes, a rail loop track spanning 37,000 feet, two rail pits allowing for simultaneous unloading of two shuttle trains and two 1,600 t/hour barge loading belts serving two barge loading docks. The site is served by the Alton & Southern Railroad and is able to receive product from all Class I railroads.
About COFCO International Limited
COFCO International Limited is a global agri-business operating a supply chain spanning six continents. Formed by COFCO's acquisition and merger of Nidera and COFCO Agri, CIL's operations are deeply rooted in those companies' long history. Thanks to this long-standing market presence, CIL has an extensive understanding of the world's largest agricultural importing markets, in particular China. CIL aims to create a vertically-integrated global agricultural supply chain supported by COFCO Group's unique position in China, its worldwide origination network, and its logistics and trading capabilities.
CIL's operations include logistics and processing assets in key global production and consumption regions, with more than 13,000 employees in 35 countries. COFCO International, together with its parent COFCO Group and its affiliates, delivered over 100 million tons of agricultural products globally in 2016.
About GROWMARK
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $7.3 billion (FY 2017 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in North America. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com and www.fssystem.com.