Drought lowers Canada’s 2023-24 wheat production.
Despite a larger planted area, Canada’s wheat production in 2023-24 dropped 7% from the previous year to 31.95 million tonnes, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Severely low soil moisture in Alberta and Saskatchewan reduced yields, the FAS said.
High prices reducing India’s corn exports
Corn exports from India have plummeted recently as domestic prices have surged due to strong demand from the country’s poultry and ethanol industries, Reuters reported, citing several exporters. The sources told Reuters that traditional importers of Indian corn, such as Vietnam, Nepal and Malaysia, have shifted their purchases to South American countries that are offering it at a lower price. They said Indian corn costs about $300 per tonne, compared to $230 per tonne in South American countries.
Black Sea nations ally to clear mines
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum of understanding to find and clear drifting sea mines in the Black Sea to facilitate safe transport of Ukrainian grain exports, Bloomberg reported. Mines drifting into specific areas of the Black Sea as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be the focus of the initiative led by Turkey. Russia and Ukraine are both major producers and exporters of grain, and the war increasingly has threatened the safe passage of shipments.
Brazil’s soybean production revised to lower.
Although Brazil’s latest soybean production forecast for the 2023-24 marketing year has been revised lower to 158.5 million tonnes, it still would top last year’s record total, if realized, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. The previous projection in October was for a crop of 161 million tonnes — 3 million tonnes higher than in 2022-23 — but the FAS said poor weather resulting from El Niño has lowered expectations…