Grain Highlights 20.12.2022

The export potential of Ukrainian wheat has dropped to 4 million tons. Until now, Turkey was actively buying wheat from Ukraine, but it has started redirecting transactions to Russia.

- Russia has received permission to export fertilizers from the ports of the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia. Latvia has agreed to carry out inspections for the export of 190,000 tons of Russian fertilizers.

- For the 11 months of 2022, the export of grain and oilseeds from Ukrainian ports on the Danube River amounted to 6.1 million tons, which is 42 times more than in the same period of 2021, reported the Administration of Ukrainian Sea Ports (AMPU).

- According to Coceral's forecast, the grain production in the EU will be 282.5 million tons in 2023/24 (261.7 in 2022/23). Total grain areas will reach 51 million hectares (50.4), and the average yield is projected at 55.4 tons/hectare (51.9). The soft wheat production will reach 128.9 million tons (125.5), barley production is estimated at 53.2 million tons (51.4) and corn production is expected at 64.5 million tons (50.7).

- Yesterday, Chicago commodity funds were net sellers of 3,000 contracts of corn and 3,000 contracts of wheat and net buyers of 10,000 contracts of soybeans.

- According to Conab data, as of 12/17/2022, the sowing campaign of soybeans in Brazil was carried out on 97% of the planned areas (+1% for the week), which is at the level of last year. Rainfall is very good in Mato Grosso and Parana, where crops are in excellent condition. Corn sowing was done on 82% of the areas (+5% for the week and 85%). The harvesting campaign of wheat has been completed on 99% of the areas.

- According to data from the Association of Rice Importers in Iran, during the first eight months of the season (21.03.2022 – 21.11.2022), about 1.3 million tons of rice were delivered to the country. Another 300,000 tons are needed for domestic consumption. During the whole of 2021/22, deliveries were 1.75 million tons, which is a record for the last 10 years.