Grain Highlights 19.02.2021

Over the week, export prices of crude sunseed oil from Ukraine rose by 65 - 70 USD/ton, given rumors that Russia will limit exports of the product. At the same time, demand for exports remained rather weak.

- SovEcon lowered its forecast for the Russian wheat production in 2021 to 76.2 million tons from 77.7 million tons in the previous estimate.

- In January, 174,400 tons of sunseed oil were exported from Russian ports (-67% compared to December) as well as 68,000 tons of sunseed meal (-32%). Other exports from Russian ports in January were:

  • soymeal- 62,000 tons (+21%)
  • soyoil- 56,000 tons (+100%)
  • soybean- 26,000 tons (+18%)
  • rapeseed oil- 13,000 tons
  • rapeseed meal-2,400 tons

The largest buyers were Turkey with total purchases of 126,500 tons, Iran with 61,200 tons and Egypt with purchases of 24,500 tons.

- Over the week, export prices of crude sunseed oil from Ukraine rose by 65 - 70 USD/ton, given rumors that Russia will limit exports of the product. At the same time, demand for exports remained rather weak. India made small purchases with delivery in March-June. The market is considered highly uncertain. Turkey has held a tender to buy 25,000 tons of unrefined sunseed oil. The lowest price was 1,394 USD/ton C&F for a cargo of 5,000 tons. The other prices were in the range of 1,429 - 1,441 USD/ton C&F. The lowest offered price at the tender in Egypt was 1,419 USD/ton C&F and delivery within 1 - 15 April. Given the high price, the Egyptians gave up buying.

- On Thursday, commodity funds in Chicago were net sellers of 6,000 contracts of corn, 7,500 contracts of soybeans and net buyers of 10,000 contracts of wheat.

- According to data from the Canadian Grain Commission, in the week of Feb 8-14, 50,600 tons of canola were exported from Canada, which is the lowest level for the season. Exports of soybeans were 9,500 tons (60,500) and wheat exports reached 286,600 tons (480,500). Since the beginning of the season, total exports have reached:

  • wheat- 10.89 million tons (+31%)
  • canola- 6.42 million tons (+30%)
  • soybeans- 3.32 million tons (+43%)
  • durum- 3.13 million tons (+22%) 

- Egypt's state-owned company GASC purchased 30,000 tons of soyoil at a price of 1,084 USD/ton and delivery in early April. Other offers were at a price of 1 106 - 1 129 USD/ton. Offers for the sale of sunseed oil were declined due to high prices.

- Tunisia purchased 92 000 tons of durum wheat at a price of 384.6 - 386.03 USD/ton, 100 000 tons of wheat at a price of 285.43 - 320.1 USD/ton and 125 000 tons of barley at a price of 278.89 - 288, 98 USD/ton C&F and delivery in the period of 15.03 - 25.04.2021.

- Pakistan has announced a tender for the purchase of 300,000 tons of wheat.