China received its first cargo of corn fromSouth Africa this week, official news agency Xinhua said,

China received its first cargo of corn fromSouth Africa this week, official news agency Xinhua said, as the world's topbuyer of the grain seeks to diversify its grain purchasing markets.

Thursday's report said the 53,000-tonnecargo bought by state-owned trader COFCO Group arrived into Machong port insouthern Guangdong province, and will be sold to animal feed makers.

More shipments are expected as SouthAfrica, the continent's top corn producer, exported 108,104 tonnes of yellowfeed corn to China between March 25 and April 14 this year, according to theSouth African Grain Information Service (SAGIS).