Country News
Argentina: Newly installed President Mauricio Macri fulfilled a campaign promise by raising the ethanol blend mandate from 10 percent to 12 percent. The mandate has been consistently raised from 6 percent in 2013 to 8.5 percent in September 2014, to 10 percent in December 2014 and now 12 percent. (WPI)
India: The government’s bid to make the country self-sufficient in food is threatened by adverse weather in 80 percent of the production areas. While global food prices decline, they are rising in India. A 2 MMT shortfall in corn production will be partially offset by poultry growers through increased consumption of pearl millet, broken rice and sorghum, but the import of 1 MMT of corn is still a possibility. (WPI)
Turkey: Barley production is expected to rise to 3.4 MMT, and feed use will expand by 1.5 MMT. Corn production is also higher by 1.3 MMT, pushing import requirements lower by an equal amount. But corn stocks will grow by 500 KMT as cheaper feed wheat and feed barley takes its place. (USDA/FAS/GAIN)
Zimbabwe: Agriculture Minister Joseph Made says that all emergency corn imports will be inspected and any found with GMOs will be rejected. Some may be considered later if trucked under security escort to milling plants. (Bloomberg)