- Latest forecasts of Russian analysts for the new grain production 2023/24 in Russia show: Rusagrotrans estimates the total grain production in Russia at 129.8 million tons, including wheat production of 84.1 million tons. The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia projects the total grain production in the country at 123 million tons, including wheat production of 78 million tons. According to ProZerno's latest forecast, total grain production will reach 129.3 million tons, including wheat production of 82 million tons. Russian Grain Union expects that the total grain production will reach 130-131 million tons, including wheat production of 84-85 million tons. 

- In the week starting on 17.05.2023, the export tax on Russian wheat will be 4,727.6 rubles/ton (5,279.2 a week earlier). The export tax on barley will be 21117.8 rubles/ton (2,676.2) and the export tax on corn will be in the amount of 2,264.3 rubles/ton (2,523.9).

- In 2022, Russia exported a record 1.8 million tons of wheat to Saudi Arabia.

- Russia has agreed to renew inspections of ships loaded with grain in the ports of Odessa and Chornomorsk, but has refused inspections in the port of Pivdenny.

- As of May 18, 2023, 4,693 million hectares (1,106 for the last week) have been sown with spring cereals in Ukraine, including spring wheat areas of 256,900 hectares, spring barley areas of 759,600 hectares and corn areas 3,266 hectares. 3.966 million hectares are sown with sunseed.

- For the week of May 8-14, 129,600 tons of rapeseed were delivered to the EU (195,400 a week earlier). From the beginning of the season to 14.05.2023, rapeseed imports totalled 6.92 million tons (4.8 a year earlier). 3.2 million tons of rapeseed were imported from Australia, and 2.9 million tons from Ukraine.

- According to data from FranceAgriMer, as of 15/05/2023 in France, 97% of the planned areas were sown with corn (+18% for the week, 88% a year earlier and 93% on average for the last five years). 93% of the winter wheat crops are in good and excellent condition (73% a year earlier), as well as 87% of the durum wheat crops (73%), 90% of the winter barley crops (71%), 95% of the spring barley crops (69%).

- On Thursday, Chicago commodity funds were net sellers of 1,000 contracts of corn, 4,000 contracts of soybeans and 5,500 contracts of wheat.

- Refinitiv forecasts a 2023/24 wheat production in Australia of 29.6 million tons (39.2 in 2022/23), which is above the previous estimate.

- Iran has announced a tender for the purchase of 120,000 tons of feed corn from Brazil or Argentina with delivery within 01.06 - 15.07.2023.