Country News
Argentina: The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange reports that 94.7 percent of the corn harvest is complete and farmer sales of the commodity have increased. (AgriCensus)
Brazil: AgRural reports the corn crop is 70 percent harvested in the center-south, versus 58 percent a week ago. It was 77 percent harvested at the same time a year ago. IMEA says that the Mato Grosso corn harvest is 98.88 percent complete. However, the corn in Parana is suffering from high moisture and about 40 percent was damaged due to frost. The consultancy says the Safrinha crop is at 51.6 MMT, down a third from its initial estimate many months ago. Corn exports picked up pace the second week of August but with domestic prices likely at the equivalent of $8.00/bushel until March of 2022, there are trade rumors that no corn will be offered for export after October. (Reuters)
China: The General Administration of Customs reports that corn imports in July were 2.86 MMT, up 213.7 percent from a year ago but down 20 percent from June. Year to date, corn imports at 18.16 MMT are up 297.5 percent. July barley imports totaled 770 KMT, up 87.1 percent from the same period last year. Year-to-date barley imports are up 124.8 percent at 6.42 MMT and sorghum imports are up 157 percent at 5.9 MMT. (Reuters)
Cyprus: After a six-year gap, the country purchased 30 KMT of barley at $282.80-293.50/MT and 5 KMT of corn was booked. (AgriCensus)
Philippines: SMS re-tendered for barley imports for October-December delivery. (AgriCensus)
Russia: The government left the corn export tax unchanged but reduced the charge on barley exports. (AgriCensus)
South Korea: NOFI bought 138 KMT of corn for November arrival. (AgriCensus)
Turkey: The government’s purchase agency TMO tendered for 270 KMT of barley for September. (AgriCensus)
Ukraine: Corn and barley exports have dropped off. (AgriCensus)
Zambia: At 3.6 MMT, Zambia has produced the largest corn crop in its history and will have 1.5 MMT available for export. However, only about half the available amount will be shipped due to most southern Africa countries producing a bumper crop this year. Instead, surplus stocks will grow by 57 percent to 1.3 MMT. The country has expanded corn production over the last two decades by expanding area and improving productivity. (FAS GAIN)