Market Perspectives – November 12, 2020

Country News

Argentina: Grain port workers launched a surprise strike to protest stalled wage talks, which could delay shipments.

Brazil: Conab reports the first crop corn planting is at 54 percent complete, which is ahead of normal. It forecasts the total corn crop at 104.9 MMT for 2020/21, down slightly from the earlier estimate of 105.2 MMT, and versus the 102.5 MMT produced in 2019/20. Cordonnier lowered its corn production estimate by 2 MMT to 108 MMT. IMEA says that Mato Grosso farmers have forward sold 44 percent of their prospective production. Year to date corn exports are at 34.5 MMT, with sales slowing down in October as demand for U.S. corn increased. (Reuters; Corn and Soybean Advisor; AgriCensus)

China: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) says the corn crop this year was not much impacted by typhoons and that both the quantity and quality of output was not significantly affected. During May-September 2020, MARA auctioned off 57 MMT of state-owned corn. The China Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (CASDE) for November left corn output at 264.71 MMT. Corn imports could hit 22 MMT, well above the 7 MMT TRQ. (Reuters; USDA/FAS/GAIN)

EU: FEFAC members report that compound feed production is down 2.2 percent this year. Germany’s 2020 harvest of corn will increase about 10 percent on the year to 4.03 MMT on what is a poor crop. (Reuters)

Iran: State-owned feed grain importer Livestock Affairs Logistic Company tendered for 60 KMT of corn and 60 KMT of feed barley with delivery in December and January. (Reuters)

Russia: Corn and barley export loadings were higher this past week. (AgriCensus)

Saudi Arabia: The cabinet gave the go-ahead for private barley imports. (AgriCensus)

South Africa: The South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) reported the first corn export cargo in 18 months is bound for the EU. (AgriCensus)

South Korea: Kocopia purchased 60 KMT of corn from Cofco, while MFG and FLC bought 268 KMT of corn from worldwide origins. (AgriCensus)

Ukraine: The Ministry of Agriculture says the barley harvest is complete and 19.6 MMT of corn was harvested from 4 million hectares, or 72 percent of the sown area for what are called stable yields. APK-Inform said that Ukrainian corn prices have resumed their upward trend, supported by limited offers from growers.  (Refinitiv)

Vietnam: Feed makers are buying local corn and say that dwindling stocks are raise fears. (AgriCensus)