Grain Highlights 28.12.2022

In 2022, the wheat production in Russia reaches 105.7 million tons of bunker weight (+26.6 compared to 2021), barley production is 24.6 million tons (19) and corn production reaches 13.9 million tons (16.1).

- In 2022, the wheat production in Russia is 105.7 million tons of bunker weight (+26.6 compared to 2021), barley production is 24.6 million tons (19) and corn production is 13.9 million tons (16.1). The total grain production reaches 159.5 million tons (126.9). Sunseed production was 15.5 million tons (15.8).

- In the week starting on 28.12.2022, the export tax on Russian wheat will be 4,160.9 rubles/ton (3,333.8 a week earlier). The export tax on barley will be 3,420.4 rubles/ton (2,686.9) and the export tax on corn will be 692.6 rubles/ton (0). In January, the export tax on sunseed oil from Russia remained zero for the fourth month in a row.

- Over the week of December 19-25, 626,600 tons of grain were exported from the Russian port of Novorossiysk (487,200 tons a week earlier), including wheat exports of 586,400 tons and peas exports were 40,300 tons. 132,800 tons of wheat was delivered to Sudan, 94,000 tons to Turkey, 707,000 tons to Pakistan, 66,900 tons to Oman.

- According to a Rusagrotrans forecast, over the period of July - December (the first half of 2022/23), the export of wheat from Russia is projected at 24 million tons or 55% of the planned 43.5 million tons of export for the year. For the first half of the year, the indicator is 2.3 million tons higher than the previous year. In the record 2017/18, exports were 22.5 million tons (42 and 54%). Over February - April 2018, the monthly export reached 3.4 - 3.8 million tons. In the half-year of 2022/23, the largest buyers were Saudi Arabia with 1.3 million tons, Algeria with 1.1 million tons, Turkey with 4 million tons, Egypt with 3.4 million tons and Iran with 1.77 million tons.

- According to data of the customs service of Ukraine, over the period of 01.07 - 26.12.2022, 21,478 million tons of grain were exported from the country (31,575 a year earlier), including 3,595 million tons in December (5,479). 7,997 million tons of wheat (1,227), 1,592 million tons of barley (125,000) and 11,806 million tons of corn (2,233) were exported.

- The European Commission has increased its forecast for the import of soft wheat into the EU in 2022/23 by 1 million tons to 5 million tons, which is 2.2 million tons more than in 2021/22. Soft wheat production in the EU reached 126.4 million tons (-0.5 compared to the previous estimate and -2.6 compared to 2021/22), and consumption was 97.6 million tons (+0.5 and +1.9). The estimates for exports and ending stocks remained unchanged at 34 million tons (+4.7) and 15.4 million tons (-0.1), respectively. The EU corn production in 2022/23 will reach 52.1 million tons (-1.2 and 73.2) and corn consumption is expected at 76.8 million tons (-0.5 and 82). The estimates for corn imports and corn exports remained unchanged at 23 million tons (16.3) and 2 million tons (6.6). Ending corn stocks will be 16.6 million tons (+0.3 and 20.4).

- Statistics Canada estimates the wheat production in Canada at 33.8 million tons (+51.5% compared to 2021/22), including wheat exports of 23.5 million tons (15.1). Canadian exports will be impacted by weak production in the United States and Argentina, and separately from poor quality wheat in Australia. This will increase the demand for wheat from Canada, as the only competitor in this case will be the Black Sea region with large volumes of quality wheat.

- According to Conab data, as of 12/24/2022, 86% of the planned areas were sown with the first corn crop in Brazil (+4% for the week and 88% a year earlier). Soybean sowing was carried out at 98% of the planned areas (+1% for the week).

- In November, China bought 477,000 tons of canola from Canada. During the previous 9 months, the average amount of imports was 100,000 tons per month. Opinions on future demand are divided given the covid issues in China.

- According to CNGOIC's estimate, 2.1 million tons of soybeans were processed in China during the week ending 12/20/2022 (+37% compared to the previous month and +13% compared to a year earlier). Stocks of soybeans in processing plants decreased by 9% compared to the previous week to 4.1 million tons (+18% and -6%). In November, soybean imports into China decreased by 14% compared to last year to 7.35 million tons.

- India has purchased Australian ASW with 9% protein at 414 USD/ton C&F. The purchase is quite expensive, given that Russian wheat with a 12.5% protein is priced at 360 - 365 USD/ton.

- Thailand has purchased 50,000 tons of feed barley most likely from Australia at 288 – 289 USD/ton C&F and delivery in June 2023.

- As of 22.12.2022, soybean sowing in Argentina was carried out on 60.6% of the planned areas (-12.6% compared to the previous year). The sowing campaign of corn has been carried out on 51.8% of the planned areas (-8.4%), and the sowing campaign of wheat was carried out on 78.3% of the planned areas.

- In 2022, palm oil exports from Indonesia may reach 24.67 million tons (37.78 in 2021). In 2023, exports are expected to recover to 36-38 million tons.

- According to data from Intertek Testing Services, over the period December 1-25, the export of palm oil from Malaysia reached 1.26 million tons (1.27 a month earlier), including 311,400 tons for EU (323,300), 100,200 tons for China (216,000) and 411,300 tons for India (356,400).

- The Government of India is considering the possibility to release 1.5 - 2 million tons of wheat from the state stocks for the large milling plants in the country in 2023.

- Iraq has purchased 150,000 tons of wheat from Australia and the US at a price within 461 – 496 USD/ton C&F.

- Turkey has purchased 24,000 tons of sunseed oil at a price of 1,214 USD/ton C&F.

- The State Company of Egypt GASC has announced a tender for the purchase of 30,000 tons of soyoil and 10,000 tons of sunseed oil with delivery within February 5 - 25, 2023. Offers were received for the sale of sunseed oil with prices of 1,290 - 1,405 USD/ton C&F and soyoil with at prices of 1.425 – 1.488 USD/ton C&F.

- On 27.12.2022, the state company of Egypt GASC bought 80,000 tons of Russian wheat with delivery within February 1 - 15 and a price of 339 USD/ton C&F.

- In 2022, the largest wheat producers in the world were China with 138 million tons, EU with 134.7 million tons, India with 103 million tons, Russia with 91 million tons, USA with 44.9 million tons, Canada with 35 million tons, Australia with 33 million tons, Pakistan with 26.4 million tons, Ukraine with 20.5 million tons, Argentina with 17.5 million tons, Turkey with 17.25 million tons, Great Britain with 14.6 million tons, Iran with 13.2 million tons, Kazakhstan with 13 million tons, Egypt with 9.8 million tons, Brazil with 9.2 million tons and Uzbekistan with 6.6 million tons.