Country News
Argentina: Grain inspectors imposed a 24-hour labor strike at key river hubs and ports. The Urgara grains inspectors’ union is demanding increased operational terminals and lower taxes on workers’ salaries. (Refinitiv)
Australia: Agriculture ministers for China and Australia met to discuss restoring the ability to ship barley from Down Under to the Middle Kingdom. Aussie Trade Minister Don Farrell says he is optimistic the dispute can be settled “in months, rather than years.” (Reuters; Bloomberg)
Logistics shortages mean that soybean exports could limit corn exports in the second half of the marketing year. The summer corn harvest is 82 percent complete. (AgriCensus)
China: Corn imports in March were down 9.2 percent, year-on-year. (AgriCensus)
Egypt: State grains buyer General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) is offering yellow corn on its recently launched commodities exchange. Small poultry producers have culled chicks due to the lack of access to feed, but they can now procure it via the exchange. The exchange does not solve the problem of limited foreign exchange to procure corn. (Reuters)
European Union: The planting of corn and other crops is at risk as drought returns to Southern Europe. Up to 60 percent of Spain is in drought and it is too dry in Italy as well. Sowing that usually begins in February or March remains delayed. However, barley field sin France are in good shape early in the season. (Bloomberg)