Soft wheat export has decreased by 19% to 9.2 mln tons; Durum export is down by 13% to 2.9 mln tons. Wheat export is expected to reach 20 mln tons over the season versus 22.134 mln tons a year earlier.

According to a FAO forecast, the 2017 grain yield in China may go down to 563.5 mln tons as a result of the decline in corn areas спада на площите с царевица. In 2016 the yield was 566.1 mln tons. Winter wheat sowing, which comprises 95% of the whole wheat yield, was completed in October 2016. The crop condition in the main grain producing regions is good. Yield will be 128.8 mln tons (128.85). Corn yield will reach 216.0 mln tons (219.6) whereas rice yield will be 208.4 mln tons (206.9).

Corn sowing in France is running faster than usual. As of 10.04.2017, 10% of the planned corn areas have been sowed versus 3% a year earlier. The condition of winter wheat crops keeps deteriorating due to the lack of humidity. 89% of soft wheat areas are in good or excellent condition (90% a week earlier and 92% a year earlier); the same condition goes for 78% of hard wheat areas (79% and 85%) as well as 82% of winter barley areas (85% and 91%).

Corn harvesting tempo in Argentina is below average due to the abundant rain, according to Buenos Aires Grain Stock Exchange. Only 3.2% of the corn areas were harvested in the past week and as of 12.04.2017, a total of 18.2% have been harvested. 1.8% of soybean areas were harvested over the week or 7.8% since the start of the campaign, which is 6.2% less than last year.

According to an Oil World report, between January and March 2017, the leading sunflower oil exporters worldwide (Ukraine, Russia and Argentina) increased its export to 2.33 mln tons versus 1.88 mln tons a year earlier. 0.56 mln tons of oil (0.5) were exported from Russia, 1.59 mln tons (1.17) from Ukraine and 0.17 mln tons (0.22) from Argentina. The world rapeseed oil export reached 0.76 mln tons (0.69) over the period with 1.87 mln tons (2.19) of soybean oil being exported. It is expected that importers will increase the demand for soybean oil and palm oil.

In their latest report, Oil World analysts increased their forecast on soybean yield in South America to 182.37 mln tons, which is 2 mln tons more than the previous forecast and 16.9 mln tons more than 2015 – 2016. The yield in Brazil will be 111.5 mln tons (95.43), in Argentina 55 mln tons (55.3), in Paraguay 10 mln tons (9.4), in Uruguay 3 mln tons (2.48) and in Bolivia 2.85 mln tons (2.9).

Over the first quarter of 2017, soybean import in China reached 19.52 mln tons, which was 20% more than the index for the January-March 2016 period. 7.66 mln tons of soybeans were imported in January with 5.54 mln tons in February and 6.33 mln tons in March.

South Korean company NOFI has announced an auction for the purchase of 115,000 tons of wheat fodder of random origin and a June-July delivery.

On 7.04.2017, South Korean company Major Feedmill Group (MFG) bought 65,000 tons of wheat fodder of random origin at 188 USD/ton C&F to be delivered before 25.09.2017.

Taiwanese Association MIPA bought 65,000 tons of American corn at a price for a September contract in Chicago of + 1.2 USD/ton C&F and a June delivery.

Over the next few years, sunflower oil import in China will rise from 0.9 mln tons to 2.4 mln tons. Sunflower oil consumption share in India is 8.45% of the total oilseed oil consumption while the share is only 2.86% in China.

Between the start of the season and 11.04.2017, soybean import in the EU reached 10.4 mln tons, which was 4% less than the previous season – 10.8 mln tons. Soybean meal import dropped by 14% to 13.8 mln tons while palm oil import went down by 16% from 5.3 mln tons to 4.4 mln tons.

According to an official forecast from Ukraine, this season’s grain export from the country will be 42 mln tons versus 41 mln tons in the previous forecast. The export will consist of 16.6 mln tons of wheat, 19 mln tons of corn, 5.6 mln tons of barley and 1 mln tons of other grains. In 2015 – 2016, export was 39.4 mln tons including 16.9 mln tons of wheat and 16.8 mln tons of corn. Between the start of the season and 12.04.2017, export reached 35.4 mln tons including 15.4 mln tons of wheat, 14.9 mln tons of corn and 4.9 mln tons of barley. According to UkrAgroConsult, the season-long wheat export will be 16 mln tons and in 2017 – 2018 – 14.5 mln tons.

According to ISOA information, the sunflower oil import in China was only 46,000 tons in February 2017, which was 30,000 tons below the initial expectations and 28% less than February 2016.

On 15.04.2017, the campaign for wheat purchasing from the state fund started in Egypt. It will run until 15.07.2017 and over the period, 4.0 – 4.5 mln tons of wheat will be bought off local farmers.

Corn areas in China will go down by 4% in 2017 versus 2016, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics reported. Soybean areas will grow by 8.1%.

According to USDA’s latest forecast, palm oil production in Malaysia will grow by 10% over the current season compared with the previous one. Production will grow from 17.7 mln tons to 19.4 mln tons and will keep growing rapidly over the next season +8% to 21 mln tons. Yield growth is expected as a result of the use of high-production sorts over the past 7 years. Palm areas will grow at a slower pace. The current season’s oil export will grow to 17 mln tons versus 16.6 mln tons in 2015 – 2016. The export will be lower than the previous expectations due to Indonesia’s aggressive intervention on the world market.

Over the current season, grain yield in Morocco may reach 10.2 mln tons, which is three times higher than the previous season according to a forecast by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. Last year, drought reduced the yield to 3.35 mln tons including 2.7 mln tons of wheat. This year’s soft wheat yield will be 4.94 mln tons, Durum yield will be 2.33 mln tons while barley yield will be 2.89 mln tons.