Grain Highlights 12.08.2023

SovEcon forecasts the wheat production for 2023/24 in Ukraine at 19.2 million tons (+1.3 compared to the previous estimate), the corn production is estimated at 25.9 million tons (+2), and barley production is expected at 4.8 million tons (+0.4).

From Rusagrotrans, there is an increase in wheat with 12.5% protein FOB Russian ports for the week, rising by 5 USD/ton to 248 USD/ton. In August, Russia's wheat export will be 4.7 – 4.8 million tons. American wheat is priced at 248 USD/ton FOB (-1), while French wheat is at 266 USD/ton (+12). During the week, Egypt purchased 235,000 tons of Russian wheat, India will reduce import duties, Jordan announced a tender to buy 120,000 tons of wheat with delivery in January-February, and Syria bought 200,000 tons of wheat.

During the week of August 16 – 22, the export tax on Russian wheat will be 3,712.8 rubles/ton (compared to 2,918.1 in the previous week), the export tax on barley will be 439.6 rubles/ton (0), and the export tax on corn will be 2,175.1 rubles/ton (1,759.7).

SovEcon forecasts the wheat production in 2023/24 in Ukraine to be 19.2 million tons (+1.3 compared to the previous estimate), corn production is expected at 25.9 million tons (+2), and barley production at 4.8 million tons (+0.4). Corn exports are projected to reach 19 million tons (+1), while the forecasts remain unchanged for wheat production at 10 million tons and barley production at 1.3 million tons.

From July 01 to August 11, 2023, Ukraine has exported 2.975 million tons of grain (compared to 2.339 million tons in the same period the previous year), including 701,000 tons in August (726,000). Wheat exports amounted to 1.183 million tons (589,000), barley exports are expected at 364,000 tons (202,000), and corn exports are estimated at 1.422 million tons (1.537).

According to government forecasts for 2023, corn production in Moldova will reach 2.1 million tons (three times more than in 2022), and sunseed production is projected at 622,000 tons.

According to data from the National Sunflower Processors Association in Kazakhstan, the sunseed production in the country in 2023 is not expected to exceed 850,000 tons (-17% compared to 2022).

According to FranceAgriMer data as of August 07, 2023, 89% of the soft wheat areas in France have been harvested (+2% for the week, 100% compared to the same time last year, and 94% on average for the past five years). 85% of corn crops are in good and excellent condition (81% the previous week and 53% the previous year).

According to Oil World data, in June, 292,000 tons of canola were exported from Canada (compared to 561,000 tons in June), marking the lowest level in the last 9 months due to weak demand from China. During January to June, deliveries to China reached 2.4 million tons (+2 compared to the previous year), which will compensate for declines in the EU, Japan, and the United States. July exports are expected to increase to 480,000 – 500,000 tons, with a total estimate for 2022/23 at 7.6 million tons (+2.3).

Refinitiv Commodities Research has increased its forecast for the 2023/24 corn production in the United States by 15 million tons compared to the previous estimate, reaching 382 million tons (+33.2 compared to 2022/23). The soybean production is projected to be 114 million tons (+3 and -2.4).

Today, August 11, 2023, Tunisia will hold a tender to purchase 25,000 tons of milling wheat with any origin and delivery from August to September.

According to Oil World data, in July, soymeal exports from the world's major exporters (Argentina, Brazil, and the USA) totaled 5.03 million tons (compared to 5.02 million tons in June 2023 and 5.28 million tons in July 2022). The USA exported 1.1 million tons (1.26 and 0.83), Argentina 1.73 million tons (1.76 and 2.5), and Brazil 2.2 million tons (2 and 1.95). From October to July, exports amounted to 46.89 million tons (-3.42), including the United States with 11.44 million tons (+0.81), Brazil with 17.38 million tons (+0.81), and Argentina with 18.08 million tons (-5.04). The decline in Argentine exports cannot be fully replaced by the United States and Brazil. The largest buyers of soymeal from October to July are the EU with 13.56 million tons (14.28), Indonesia with 4.39 million tons (4.57), Vietnam with 3.79 million tons (4.3), Thailand with 2.61 million tons (2.43), and the Philippines with 2.41 million tons (2.51).