Grain Highlights 18.04.2023

According to USDA data as of 04/16/2023, the state of winter wheat crops in the United States remains unchanged and is the worst in the history of statistics.

- From the beginning of the season to 17.04.2023, 47.8 million tons of grain were exported from Russia (41.6 a year earlier). Over the period of April 1-17, the export of grain was 2.85 million tons, including wheat exports of 2.34 million tons, corn exports of 328,000 tons and barley exports of 187,000 tons.

- The Russian Union of Oilseed Processors predicts that the sunseed production in Russia will reach 16 million tons in 2023/24 (16,357 in 2022/23).

- Moldovan farmers have asked the government to stop importing Ukrainian grain into Moldova. Poland and Slovakia will not prohibit the transit of Ukrainian grain through their territories.

- As of 04/01/2023, sunseed stocks in Kazakhstan have decreased to 795,000 tons (1.14 million tons as of 01/01/2023).

- Over the period of July - March, the import of sunseed oil in the EU reached 1.3 million tons (-11% compared to the previous season), including 1.16 million tons from Ukraine (-10%). During the same period, EU sunseed oil exports reached 870,000 tons (+100%).

- Chicago commodity funds were net buyers of 7,000 contracts of corn, 7,000 contracts of soybeans and 8,000 contracts of wheat yesterday.

- According to NOPA's estimate, U.S. soybean processing in March was 5.05 million tons, a 15-month high and up 12.3% from February.

- According to USDA data as of 04/16/2023, the state of winter wheat crops in the United States remains unchanged and is the worst in the history of statistics. 27% of crops were in good and excellent condition (30% a year earlier and 46% on average for the last five years). Corn has been sown on 8% of the planned areas (4% a year earlier, 5% on average for the last five years), spring wheat has been sown on 3% (1% and 7%) and soybeans have been sown on 4% of the planned areas.

- According to StoneX's forecast, Brazil's wheat production will reach 11.3 million tons in 2023/24, which will be a new record against the current record of 11 million tons for 2022/23. Domestic consumption of wheat during the season will be 13.2 million tons, wheat imports are expected at 6.15 million tons (+9.4%) with Argentina as the main supplier.

- According to data from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange in Argentina, 4.3% of the 2022/23 soybean crop areas have been harvested. 65% of crops are in bad and very bad condition (15% a year earlier).

- The Rosario Grain Exchange has once again lowered its forecast for the 2022/23 soybean production in Argentina by 0.5 million tons to 22.8 million tons, which will be the lowest level for the last 20 years. Imports increased by 0.5 million tons to 10 million tons. In the first 4 days of the soybean dollar campaign, farmers sold 441,750 tons of soybeans, while in the previous two 4-day campaigns, 3.1 million tons and 1.1 million tons of soybeans were sold.

- The Malaysian government leaves the country's palm oil export tax unchanged at 8% for the month of May.

- Jordan has bought 50,000 tonnes of durum milling wheat of any origin at a price of 303 USD/ton C&F and delivery within October 16 – 30. The tender was announced for 120,000 tons of wheat.