UN, Russian officials discuss grain exports
Talks aimed at providing Ukraine and Russia “unimpeded access” to global grain and fertilizer markets were held between the United Nations and Russian officials Oct. 9 in Moscow, Reuters reported. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said top UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan was in Moscow and UN aid chief Martin Griffiths joined the talks virtually.
More ships using Ukrainian seaports
Three ships left Ukrainian ports on Oct. 1, and five more ships are on their way to ports using a new corridor opened by Ukraine mainly for agricultural exports as an alternative to the Black Sea Grain Initiative quit by Russia, Reuters reported. “Five new vessels are waiting to be loaded in Ukrainian ports,” Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on the X social media platform. “Bulk carriers OLGA, IDA, DANNY BOY, FORZA DORIA, NEW LEGACY are going to…
Ukraine exports plunge by 51%
Ukraine grain exports from Sept. 1-24 fell by 51% compared with the same period in 2022, Reuters reported, citing data from Ukraine’s agriculture ministry. The war-torn country has seen its grain infrastructure under attack by Russia since it withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17. It exported 1.57 million tonnes of grain during the first...
US HRW wheat exports projected at record low
US Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat exports are forecast to fall to their lowest level since the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) began tracking such data in 1973, according to a recent report from the Economic Research Service (ERS). In its monthly Wheat Outlook Report, released on Sept. 14, the ERS projected HRW exports to decline to 155 million tonnes, revised downward by 10 million tonnes from its August projection.
Poland to extend embargo of Ukraine grain
Poland announced on Sept. 12 that it will not lift its embargo of imports of Ukrainian grain this week as originally planned. Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said resuming imports would hurt Polish farmers.
Argentina anticipates rebound in soybean crop
Argentina’s soybean crop is expected to rebound in the 2023-24 crop year to an estimated 50 million tonnes, up from 21 million tonnes last season, according to a Sept. 7 report from the Buenos Aires grain exchange. The country is a top exporter of processed soybeans and also a major corn and wheat supplier. A historic drought sharply reduced production last season.
Brazil overtakes US as top corn exporter
Brazil will overtake the United States as the world’s top corn exporter in the 2022-23 marketing year and is projected to be the leading exporter in 2023-24 as well, according to statistics from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. The only other year in which Brazil topped the United States in corn exports was in 2012-13, a year in which a severe drought impacted US corn production.
Canada enters GM corn dispute
The Canadian government announced on Aug. 25 that it will participate as a third party in the dispute settlement proceedings between the United States and Mexico regarding the use of genetically modified corn in tortillas and dough. In a statement released on the Canadian government’s website, Lawrence MacAuley, minister of agriculture and food, and Mary Ng, minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, said Canada sides with the United States regarding its stance on the issue.
Grain market review: Oilseeds
World oilseed prices rose in July after months of falls, with sunflower, notably, rising because of uncertainty over Black Sea shipments and new crop supplies looking tight ahead of harvest. Improving crop conditions in the first half of August in the United States triggered new declines, although it remains to be seen what impact the heatwave in the US Midwest in late August will have on the soybean crop. On Aug. 21, soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade…
Romania to boost Ukrainian grain exports
With additional staff and the completion of EU-funded infrastructure projects, Romania said it could double its monthly transit of Ukrainian grain to its Black Sea port of Constanta to 4 million tonnes in coming months, particularly via the Danube River, Reuters reported, citing Romania's minister of transport. Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain exporters, and Russia has been attacking its agricultural and port infrastructure after refusing to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations…