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Trade mission to Asia highlights export opportunities

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen says work continues to improve market access in the Asia-Pacific for producers.

On a call with reporters during a trade mission this week, he said Japan continues to be a reliable partner for red meat exports. “We had really important discussions about continual opportunities to grow the export markets for beef, pork and poultry, and then it was about some of the headwinds and great opportunities.”

He said he’s also working to increase wheat sales, and the delegation saw see the country’s flour industry milling firsthand. “We had meetings with a couple of people who are buying wheat and exporting wheat. A rancher and wheat farmer from the Panhandle was with us and had those conversations. That was really good.”

Pillen says there was a lot of interesting state’s carbon capture pipelines, which are creating opportunities in the region. “Clean energy is a very, very high priority for the Japanese market. I think it’s an intriguing part and important for the Philippines but not quite as high of a degree to what it would be for the Japanese market.”

He said both countries are planning to increase ethanol blend rates in their fuel supply, which could create more demand for the Nebraska product.