Grain Highlights 11.12.2023

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, a record corn production of 288.8 million tons was harvested in the country in 2023 (compared to 277.2 in 2022).

- As of December 8, 2023, the wheat production in Russia has reached 95 million tons bunker weight (91.2 net and 105.6 the previous year). The average yield is 3.27 tons per hectare (3.61). The barley production is 22.1 million tons (24.5) with an average yield of 2.82 tons per hectare (3.09), and harvested corn so far reaches 15.8 million tons (12.7). The harvested sunseed is 16.8 million tons (14.7). The sowing of winter crops for the 2024 season has been completed on 18.6 million hectares (17.7).

- During the past week, 374,600 tons of grain were exported from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, which is 15,700 tons less than the previous year. Of these, 341,600 tons are wheat, and 33,000 tons are barley. The wheat was sent to Turkey (73,800 tons), Sudan (60,000 tons), Pakistan (53,000 tons), Mexico (48,900 tons), and all the barley to Oman.

- According to USDA data, the wheat production in Kazakhstan is 12 million tons (-27% compared to 2022/23 and 11.8 in 2020/21). The average yield is only 0.88 tons per hectare.

- In October, Australia exported 1.41 million tons of wheat (compared to 1.49 in September). This marks the first month of the 2023/24 season. The largest customers were Thailand (29,600 tons), Malaysia (25,900 tons), and Taiwan (16,900 tons).

- According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, a record corn production of 288.8 million tons was harvested in the country in 2023 (compared to 277.2 in 2022). Despite the typhoons in July that affected the wheat yields, corn yields thrived due to sufficient moisture. The rice production reached 206.6 million tons, and soybean production was 23.84 million tons. The areas cultivated with grain crops increased by 0.5% to 119 million hectares.

- According to government data as of early December, wheat stocks in India were 19 million tons, the lowest level in the last 7 years. It is expected that by the beginning of the new season (April 1, 2024), stocks will decrease to 6 million tons against the country's norm of 7.46 million tons. The harvesting campaign of the new wheat crop will begin in March. Wheat prices in the country are encouraging farmers to plant more acres, but dry weather conditions may hinder high yields. Meanwhile, the government is verbally attacking the market, speculating that they initially negotiated to import 6-7 million tons from Russia and are now negotiating for 1 million tons. This tactic mirrors Egypt's approach, where authorities speculate due to a lack of funds.

- Algeria has announced a tender for the purchase of at least 50,000 tons of wheat with delivery within February - March. The country usually makes purchases following a tender organized by Egypt, and there were two such tenders during the past week.