Grain Highlights 08.12.2023

Conab has lowered its forecast for the 2023 wheat production in Brazil by 15% due to heavy rainfall in the south, reaching 8.14 million tons, still the second-highest result in history after the record in 2022 – 10.55 million tons.

During the week starting on December 13, 2023, the export tax on Russian wheat will reach 4,063.5 rubles/ton (3,808.1 a week earlier). The export tax on corn will be 839.5 rubles/ton (618.9), while barley remains duty-free.

As of December 7, 2023, in Ukraine, 10.433 million hectares of cereal crops have been harvested (96% of all areas), yielding 57.06 million tons of grain with an average yield of 5.47 tons/hectare. The harvested sunseed reaches 11.94 million tons from 99% of the areas, and harvested soybeans were 4.78 million tons from 100% of the soybean areas.

During the period from July 1 to December 8, 2023, Ukraine has exported 13.92 million tons of grain (18.974 a year earlier), including 824,000 tons in December (1.092 million tons). Exported wheat amounts to 6.103 million tons (194,000), barley exports reached 897,000 tons (23,000), and corn exports were 6.785 million tons (605,000).

Lebanon has purchased 30,000 tons of wheat with 11.5% protein from Ukraine at a price of 253 USD/ton C&F.

According to FranceAgriMer data as of December 4, 2023, winter wheat sowing in France has been completed on 89% of the planned areas (+6% for the week and 99% compared to the previous year). 77% of the crops are in good and excellent condition (-3% and 97%). Winter barley sowing has been completed on 94% of the planned areas (+25 and 100%). 81% of the crops are in good and excellent condition (-1% and 97%).

Conab has lowered its forecast for the 2023 wheat production in Brazil by 15% due to heavy rainfall in the south, reaching 8.14 million tons, still the second-highest result in history after the record in 2022 – 10.55 million tons. Imports will increase by 0.6 million tons to 6 million tons, while exports decrease by 0.6 million tons to 2 million tons.