Country News
Argentina: The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange says that corn planting nears completion and timely rains have likely saved the potential to produce 49 MMT of corn notes the BCR or central bank. (AgriCensus)
Brazil: Harvesting of the soybean crop is at just 1.8 percent and the delay may adversely impact the planting of the Safrinha corn crop. Also, corn exports continue to lag. However, the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (IMEA) says that farmers forward sold more corn this year than usual, and that prices have been higher, and are likely to stay elevated. Part of this is due to an increase in the volume of corn going to make ethanol. The corn ethanol producers’ association Unem says that three new plants are coming on-line this year, adding 1 billion liters of capacity. There are seven additional plants under construction and within eight years corn will provide nearly 20 percent of the nation’s ethanol feed stock. (AgriCensus; Reuters; Nasdaq’ Argus)
China: The agriculture ministry issued biosafety certificates for domestically developed GMO corn traits that move the country closer to growing its own genetically modified crops. One trait was developed by Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Ltd and a second by Zhejiang University. (Reuters)
EU: The French grain organization Intercereales reports that the transportation strike is threatening grain exports and livestock feed producers say they cannot bring in enough crops for marketing. (Reuters)
Mexico: The 2019/20 corn crop will be 25 MMT, a 10 percent decline from the 27.6 MMT produced last year. Dry weather in the spring/summer will also result in reduced yields. (FAS GAIN)
South Korea: MFG bought corn privately, likely from South America. (AgriCensus)
Tunisia: The government’s Organisation Tunisienne de Défense du Consommateur tendered for imports of barley and other grains. (AgriCensus)
Ukraine: The Ministry for the Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture says that grain exports were up 29 percent in 2019/20. It included 3.8 MMT of barley and 14.2 MMT of corn. (Reuters)
Zimbabwe: The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has acquired 100 KMT of maize from South Africa and Brazil. The government is allowing private acquisitions of grain to fill needs suffering from the drought. (NewZimbabwe.com; Bloomberg)