Grain Highlights 19.02.2024

According to Safras&Mercado's forecast, Brazil's soybean production in 2023/24 will reach 94 million tons (95 a month earlier and 101.86 in 2022/23). Processing in the country is estimated at 54.3 million tons (53.5 in the previous estimate), imports will be 110,000 tons (181,000), total supply is estimated at 154.492 million tons (-6%), demand is expected at 151.3 million tons (-5%), and ending soybean stocks are projected at 3.192 million tons (-40%).

According to the forecast by the Center for Price Indices in Russia, wheat exports are projected to reach 48.1 million tons in 2024/25 (46.4 million in the November estimate). For 2023/24, the export is expected to be 52.9 million tons (50.4 million). The new grain production is estimated to be 141.5 million tons (134.2 as of November), including wheat production of 90.5 million tons (87.3). Sunseed production is expected to reach 15.5 million tons (15.6), rapeseed production is estimated at 4.2 million tons (4.3), and soybean production forecast remains unchanged at 5.9 million tons. Sunseed oil production is projected to be 6.4 million tons (6.8), with exports of 4.2 million tons (4.5).

From July 1, 2023, to February 19, 2024, Ukraine exported 27.059 million tons of grain (30.318 a year earlier), including 3.183 million tons in February (3.347). The exported grains include 10.521 million tons of wheat (10.808), 1.547 million tons of barley (1.981), and 14.725 million tons of corn (17.415).

As of February 15, 2024, Ukraine has harvested 91% of corn areas, gathering 28.748 million tons of grain with an average yield of 7.78 tons per hectare. In the last week, 44,000 tons of corn were harvested.

In their February report, AAFC increased their wheat export estimate for Canada's 2023/24 crop by 0.3 million tons to 23.5 million tons (25.7 in 2022/23). Ending stocks are expected to reach 3.6 million tons (-0.4 and 3.5), with a production of 33.9 million tons (+0.6 and +1.9), and domestic consumption of 9.1 million tons (+0.3 and +0.5). Canola exports are estimated at 7 million tons (-0.7 and -1), with ending canola stocks at 2 million tons (1.5 in 2022/23).

According to Safras&Mercado's forecast, Brazil's soybean production in 2023/24 will reach 94 million tons (95 a month earlier and 101.86 in 2022/23). Processing in the country is estimated at 54.3 million tons (53.5 in the previous estimate), imports will be 110,000 tons (181,000), total supply is estimated at 154.492 million tons (-6%), demand is expected at 151.3 million tons (-5%), and ending soybean stocks are projected at 3.192 million tons (-40%).

Data from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange as of February 14, 2024, shows that 27% of the corn crops in Argentina are in good and excellent condition (31% a week earlier and 45% a year earlier), 56% are in satisfactory (54% and 44%), and 17% of the crops are in poor or very poor condition (15% and 11%). Corn has been planted on 7.2 million hectares (7.1 in 2022/23).

Market operators estimate that the wheat production in India for 2023/24 will reach 107-108 million tons against the official forecast of 114 million tons. As of December 31, 2023, wheat stocks in India decreased to a seven-year minimum of 16.35 million tons (17.17 a year earlier).

Indonesia plans to purchase 500,000 tons of feed corn, and Iran has announced a tender for the import of 120,000 tons of feed corn, 120,000 tons of feed barley, and 120,000 tons of soymeal.

Following the drought in 2023, corn production in Indonesia has decreased, and the country is looking to buy larger quantities of feed wheat. Wheat imports for the current season in the country are expected to reach 10.87 million tons (+10% compared to the previous season).