Grain Highlights 07.10.2023

From July 1 to October 5, 2023, Ukraine harvested 32.308 million tons of grain from 7.258 million hectares (67% of all areas).

During the week of October 11-17, the export tax on Russian wheat will be 5,224 rubles/ton (4,564.6 a week earlier). The export tax on barley will be 1,166.1 rubles/ton (1,251.1), and the export tax on corn will reach 3,120.8 rubles/ton (2,853.8).

In September, Russia exported 218,700 tons of sunseed oil, with major clients being China with 58,600 tons, Turkey with 56,600 tons, India with 38,000 tons, and Egypt with 35,300 tons.

Soybean production in Russia for 2023/24 is expected to reach 6.2 million tons (6 in 2022/23).

From July 1 to October 5, 2023, Ukraine harvested 32.308 million tons of grain from 7.258 million hectares (67% of all areas). The harvested wheat is 22.21 million tons and harvested corn reaches 2.59 million tons. Sunseed production is 7.308 million tons, and soybean productions is at 3.118 million tons.

According to FranceAgriMer data as of October 2, 2023, in France, 27% of corn areas have been harvested (+15% for the week, 64% compared to the previous year, and 34% on average for the last five years). Winter wheat sowing has been done on 2% of the fields, and winter barley harvesting has been completed on 5%.

According to data from the European Commission from the beginning of 2023/24 until October 1, 2023, corn imports into the EU reached 4.22 million tons (7.39 in 2022/23). The largest customer is Estonia with 1.65 million tons, followed by the Netherlands with 550,500 tons and Italy with 542,100 tons. The largest suppliers are Ukraine with 2.04 million tons, followed by Brazil with 1.62 million tons, Canada with 220,100 tons, Russia with 72,400 tons, and the US with 70,700 tons.

USDA reported an export sale of 220,000 tons of American soft red wheat to China. This is the first major deal since July 2021.

During the period from July to September, Egypt purchased 2.031 million tons of grain from Russia (1.862 million tons a year earlier), followed by Turkey with 1.864 million tons (2.057), Iran with 2.412 million tons (1.817), Saudi Arabia with 1.664 million tons, and Libya with 1.108 million tons.

According to CIARA-CEC data, in Argentina, 35% of soybean processing capacity is operational. The decrease in utilization is due to the weak production of 20 million tons, and despite expectations of high imports of 10 million tons of soy, the facilities are not operating. From the beginning of the season to August, imports reached a record 8.2 million tons, while processing reached 19.6 million tons, the lowest level since 2015.

Algeria has purchased 60,000 tons of corn from Argentina or Brazil at a price of 250-259 USD/ton C&F with delivery in October, and 30,000 tons of forage barley at a price of 219-220 USD/ton C&F with delivery in November.