WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Malaysia is forecast to import more corn, wheat and rice in the 2019-20 marketing year, according to a March 20 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

According to the USDA, Malaysia is forecast to import 4.15 million tonnes of corn in 2019-20, up from 4 million tonnes in 2018-19 and compared with 3.645 million tonnes in 2017-18. The USDA said the increase primarily reflects steadily growing demand for poultry feed.

Malaysia imports most of its corn from South America, with approximately 80% originating from Brazil and Argentina during the 2017-18 marketing year. But the USDA said that increasingly competitive U.S. Gulf prices in the first quarter of 2019 may boost interest for imports from the United States.

Wheat imports in Malaysia are forecast at 1.78 million tonnes in 2019-20, up from 1.75 million tonnes in 2018-19 and compared with 1.612 million tonnes in 2017-18. The USDA said the small increase reflects expectations that consumption will remain relatively flat during the year. Most of Malaysia’s wheat imports come from Australia, followed by Canada and the United States.

Rice imports also are forecast to increase in 2019-20, the USDA said, moving to 1.12 million tonnes from 1.05 million tonnes in 2018-19. The USDA attributed the projected increase in imports to rising consumption demands of the growing population. Thailand and Vietnam currently supply more than 80% of rice imported into Malaysia, the USDA noted.