Japan to Purchase Most Wheat in a Decade as Corn Costs Climb

Japan, the world’s largest corn buyer, may purchase less of the grain as feed-wheat imports almost quadruple this year to the highest level since 2001, as livestock producers seek to cut costs.

Feed-wheat imports may surge to 430,000 metric tons from 112,000 tons in the year ended March 31, said Ikuho Tomita, deputy director at the agriculture ministry’s feed supply and demand planning office. Imports were 473,000 tons in 2001.