Country News
Brazil: Corn prices, pushed higher by new ethanol plants and rapid exports this month, is threatening the margins earned by poultry producers. (Bloomberg; AgriCensus)
Canada: Agriculture Canada revised 2018/19 corn imports higher to 2.8 MMT, the most since 2008/09. Corn exports will drop by 20 percent to 1.425 MMT. Despite higher prices, domestic use is rising and 2019/20 ending stocks will drop by 10 percent from last year. (FarmLead)
China: ASF has reduced the pig herd and thus the demand for feed, driving corn prices down. The drop has slightly been offset by a sharp increase in poultry production. (Financial Times)
EU: After being delayed by rain, the harvesting of the French corn crop has resumed. (AgriCensus)
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. (SALIC) is working with the Russian sovereign wealth fund RDIF to find a grain terminal and other investment options in the Black Sea region. (Reuters; World Grain)
South Africa: Despite worries about drought, a Reuters survey of analysts indicates the government’s Crop Estimates Committee will increase its estimate maize production area to 2.36 million hectares, a 2.58 percent increase over its September forecast. (Reuters)
South Korea: At least one feed manufacturer has broken ranks and made the first purchase of corn following the outbreak of ASF Cases. The purchase was for 120 KMT at $204-206/MT C&F delivered. (AgriCensus)
Ukraine: The corn harvest has now reached 58 percent bringing up 19 MMT so the focus now turns to yields. (AgriCensus)