Grain Highlights 26.03.2022

IHS Markit has lowered its forecast for corn areas in the United States in 2022 by 70,000 acres compared to January to 91.4 million acres, which is 1.9 million acres below the level of 2021.

- Over the week 30.03 - 05.04.2022, the export tax on Russian wheat will be 87 USD/ton (86.4 a week earlier). The export tax will be 75.6 USD/ton for barley (79.6) and 58.3 USD/ton for corn (53.2).

- Ukraine abolishes the licensing regime for the export of corn and sunseed oil introduced on 07.03.2022.

- According to FranceAgriMer, as of 11.03.2022, 92% of winter soft wheat crops (87% a year earlier), 88% of winter durum wheat crops (85%) and 88% of winter barley crops are in good and excellent condition. Spring barley areas have already been sown and crops are growing faster than usual.

- According to USDA data, as of March 20, 2022, 21% of durum, winter, soft wheat crops are in good and excellent condition in the US state of Oklahoma (24% a week earlier and 62% a year earlier), and 46% are in poor condition. In Texas, 6% of the crops (6% and 29%) are in good and excellent condition, and 79% are in poor condition. In Kansas, 25% of crops (23% and 45%) are in good and excellent condition, and 36% are in poor condition. In general, the condition of crops this spring is well below last year's level.

- IHS Markit has lowered its forecast for corn areas in the United States in 2022 by 70,000 acres compared to January to 91.4 million acres, which is 1.9 million acres below the level of 2021. Soybean areas estimate was increased by 775,000 acres to 88.6 million acres, which is 1.4 million acres more than 2021. Wheat areas are expected at 47.5 million acres (-690,000 and +764,000).

- Over the week of March 11-17, weekly export sales of corn from the United States were 979,500 tons (-47% compared to the previous week and +29% compared to the average for the last 4 weeks). The largest buyers were Mexico with 265,300 tons, Colombia with 153,900 tons, South Korea with 127,200 tons, an unknown buyer with 92,600 tons and Israel with 69,700 tons. As of March 17, 2022, export commitments reach 53 million tons (64.9 years earlier) and exports are 30.3 million tons (31.9).

- According to USDA data, in the week of March 11-17, the export sales of wheat from the United States were 155,700 tons. Since the beginning of the season, sales have reached 18.9 million tons (-24% compared to the previous year), which is the lowest level for the last 20 years. The largest customers were Mexico with 3.44 million tons (2.82 already exported), the Philippines with 2.72 million tons (2.17), Japan with 2.35 million tons (1.89), Nigeria with 1.98 million tons (1.34) and South Korea with 1.19 million tons (1.08). Sales of wheat from the new crop were 1.37 million tons, which is the lowest level for the last 8 years.

- According to Oil World, 248,000 tons of soyoil were exported from Argentina in February (175,000 in the preliminary estimate, 287,000 in January and 460,000 in February 2021) and 1.97 million tons of soymeal (1.84 in the preliminary estimate and 1.5 in January). Over the period of October - February, soyoil exports reached 1.83 million tons (-24%) and soymeal exports were 10.1 million tons (+ 6.4%).

- According to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange, the harvesting campaign of soybeans has started in Argentina. Yields are within 1.5 - 4 tons/hectare, which is below the average annual level. 32% of the crops are in good and excellent condition (-2% compared to the previous week).

- Jordan has canceled a tender for the purchase of 120,000 tons of wheat of any origin. The next tender will take place on 31.03.2022 for the purchase of 120,000 tons.