Country News
Algeria: According to European traders, the state grains agency ONAB has tendered for 50 KMT of feed barley for April delivery. Earlier, ONAB purchased 30 KMT of corn from Argentina. (Reuters)
Argentina: Farmer selling has rebounded, and higher domestic use has eased surplus stocks to 5 MMT. Barley production could increase next season in response to demand from China, which quit buying from Australia. Plus, it avoids the government’s interventions in the wheat business. Because Argentina’s crop rating system is less precise, perceived relative damage to the drought-stricken crop may not be accurate. The Rosario grains exchange reduced its forecast for the 2021 corn crop by 4 MMT to a total of 45 MMT. (AgriCensus; Refinitiv)
Brazil: CONAB raised its forecast for corn production this year by 2.5 MMT to a total of 108.068 MMT. IMEA forecasts Mato Grosso’s 2021/22 corn forward sales at 12.7 percent and 2020/21 forward corn sales at 70.9 percent, versus the 73.4 percent pace a year earlier. More than a quarter of the safrinha corn planting area has missed the planting window. Silvio Farnese, the agriculture ministry’s director of trade and supply says the government plans to incentivize increased corn planting in key production areas this coming summer, which begins in late 2021. Incentives will include credit, crop insurance and trade support mechanisms. (Reuters; AgriCensus)
EU: France AgriMer reports that warm, dry weather has enabled farmers to advance spring barley planting to the half-way point. Weekly barley exports from the port of Rouen were up 63 percent. (Refinitiv; AgriCensus)
Kenya: A ban on imports of maize from neighboring Tanzania and Uganda was imposed due to the detection of high levels of mycotoxins in their supplies. (AllAfrica)
Saudi Arabia: State buying agency SAGO has tendered for barley with April-May delivery and purchased 660 KMT of barley at an average price of $280/MT. (AgriCensus)
South Korea: The Major Feedmills Group (MFG) issued a worldwide tender for 140 KMT of corn and purchased 70 KMT from South Africa supplier ETG. The high cost of freight, feed and corn is deterring some of the country’s buyers. (AgriCensus)
Turkey: The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) tendered for 115 KMT of corn for delivery in March-April. (AgriCensus)
Uruguay: The government seeks to expand the production of barley in anticipation that China will present a growing export opportunity. (AgriCensus)