Country News
Argentina: The farmer representative groups Argentine Rural Society and Argentine Seed Producers’ Association have reached agreement for producers to pay royalties on biotech crop seeds as demanded by the intellectual property owners. This could pave the way for improved genetics and crop production. (AgriCensus)
Brazil: The safrinha corn crop is at 43 percent planted, up 17 percent in a week but below the five-year average of 47 percent planted by this time. Meanwhile, 19 percent of the summer corn crop is harvested, compared to the five-year average of 22 percent. (AgriCensus)
China: Sorghum imports were up 250 percent in January versus December; corn imports were down. Corn imports were still a healthy 390 KMT, which are up on January 2017 but less than December 2017 imports. (Reuters)
South Africa: The government expects the corn crop to come in at 12.2 MMT, lower than USDA’s forecast and 6 MMT below the previous year’s maize harvest. Meanwhile, corn utilization has risen by 5 percent at the same time corn stocks have fallen by 12.5 percent. (AgriCensus)
South Korea: Corn imports were mixed for major feed buyers as NOFI declined the purchase of 68 KMT of corn at $203.75/MT while KFA moved forward on the purchase of two lots, likely from the U.S. PNW, and FLC may have secured a cargo. (AgriCensus)
Ukraine: Corn exports had been on the rise through 2017 but greater competition, lower prices and more domestic storage options has caused a slowdown in 2018. (AgriCensus)