Report Summary 1. Industry Investment Rating No investment rating information is provided in the report [2] 2. Core Viewpoint The new grain sales have slowed down, and the remaining grain after the Spring Festival is still expected to be insufficient. Although there is a tight supply expectation of high - quality grain in some areas, the public bidding transactions and a significant increase in imports, along with the support of downstream procurement demand, suggest that corn prices in the first half of the year may be relatively optimistic, but the upside space is limited. It is recommended that grain - using enterprises purchase spot goods as needed and maintain a safe reserve, while traders should buy at low prices and sell at high prices [6] 3. Summary by Category 3.1 Futures and Spot Market Conditions - The corn main 2603 contract rebounded again, while the spot price was stable with a slight decline. The basis of corn oscillated weakly, and the discount of the futures price narrowed. The starch main 2603 contract oscillated and rebounded, with a stable starch price and a weakly oscillating basis [3] 3.2 New Grain Sales Progress - As of January 22, the national grain sales progress was 56%, 1% slower year - on - year. There was obvious regional differentiation: the Northeast was 56%, 2% faster year - on - year; North China was 51%, 3% slower year - on - year; and the Northwest was 69%, 3% slower year - on - year. It is expected that the national grain sales progress before the Spring Festival will exceed 60%, and there will be insufficient remaining grain after the Spring Festival. As of January 22, CGSCC had put 750,000 tons into public bidding and 611,000 tons were transacted [3] 3.3 Inventory Status - As of January 16, the corn inventory in northern ports was 1.497 million tons, rebounding month - on - month and at a low level in the same period in recent years. The weekly shipping volume was 389,000 tons, dropping significantly. In Guangdong Port, the domestic trade corn inventory was 478,000 tons, dropping month - on - month, and the foreign trade corn inventory was 219,000 tons, also dropping month - on - month. As of January 23, the corn inventory of deep - processing enterprises was 3.838 million tons, rising continuously month - on - month and still at a low level in the same period in recent years. The corn inventory of feed enterprises was 31.32 days, rising month - on - month [4] 3.4 Substitute and Import Situation - Due to the delayed wheat sowing and poor seedling conditions, wheat may have a reduced yield. The wheat - corn price difference remains high, and wheat substitution for corn is not feasible. In December 2025, China's corn imports increased significantly again, up 44.1% month - on - month and 135.3% year - on - year. The cumulative corn imports in 2025 were 2.647 million tons, down 80.8% year - on - year. Corn imports have increased significantly since last October and may continue to rise [4] 3.5 External Market Conditions - The U.S. corn in the external market oscillated at a low level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's January supply - demand report increased the U.S. corn production to a record high due to increased yield per unit and harvested area, which led to a nearly 10% increase in the ending inventory, up 44% year - on - year. The South American corn production was not adjusted. The global corn ending inventory increased by 4.2% but was still 1.29% lower than last year [4] 3.6 Demand Situation - Feed demand was relatively strong. Pig prices rebounded, and pig farming turned profitable. As of January 16, the profit of purchasing piglets for fattening was 48.35 yuan per head, and the self - breeding and self - fattening profit was 7.39 yuan per head. The reduction of pig production capacity achieved certain results. In December, the national inventory of breeding sows was 39.61 million, and the national pig inventory was 429.67 million, showing the first month - on - month decline in recent years and only a 0.5% year - on - year increase. In the poultry sector, egg prices rebounded, and the breeding loss narrowed. The demand for feed may remain strong. Deep - processing enterprise demand was insufficient. The processing profit of starch processing enterprises was in the red in some areas, and the operating rate stopped falling. The operating rate of starch processing enterprises was 60.46% as of January 23, rising month - on - month, and the starch inventory was 1.069 million tons, continuing to decline. Alcohol processing enterprises continued to make losses, and the operating rate dropped to 57.33%. The operating rate of downstream starch sugar enterprises was rising, and that of paper - making enterprises was relatively stable [5]