Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer and Dominic Carey reported today that, “For more than half a century, US farmers dominated the international market for corn, shipping more of the critical crop than any other country to feed the world’s livestock, fill its stockpiles and manufacture its processed foods.”
Trade
Second Ship Sails From Odesa Through Black Sea “Humanitarian Corridor,” While China Economic News in Focus
Reuters writer Dan Peleschuk reported yesterday that, “A vessel carrying steel products to Africa has left Ukraine’s Odesa port through a temporary Black Sea corridor, the second ship to do so since Russia withdrew last month from a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed for grain to be safely exported, a senior Ukrainian government official said on Sunday.”
Despite Russian Attacks on Danube, Romania Seeks to Double Alternative Shipping Capacity, as “Russia Squeezes Ukraine’s Ability to Export” Grain
Alistair MacDonald and Oksana Pyrozhok reported on Saturday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “As Russia squeezes Ukraine’s ability to export its huge grain harvests, it is farmers like Valery Kolosha who are counting the cost.”
Russian Drones Again Target Port Infrastructure in Danube River Area, as China Soybean Demand in Focus
Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported today that, “Russia targeted Ukrainian ports in the southern Odesa region and the Danube River area in overnight drone attacks, setting at least one grain storage facility on fire, Ukraine’s military and local authorities said on Wednesday.”
Kyiv Finalizing Deal With Insurers to Cover Black Sea Grain Ships, While Additional Heavy Rain Expected in China
Over the weekend, Bloomberg writers Aine Quinn and Olesia Safronova reported that, “The Kremlin’s efforts to paralyze Ukrainian food shipments are succeeding, with a third of the country’s crop exports wiped out since its Black Sea ports were effectively blocked last month.”
U.S. Establishes USMCA Panel Regarding Mexico’s GMO Corn Import Restrictions, While Global Grain Production Forecast as Second Largest on Record
Reuters writer David Lawder reported yesterday that, “The United States on Thursday escalated its objections to Mexico’s curbs on genetically modified corn imports, requesting a dispute settlement panel under the North American trade pact, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said.”
U.S. Wheat Exports “Projected at 52-Year Low,” While U.S., Mexico Corn Dispute Continues
In its monthly Wheat Outlook report earlier this week, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) indicated that, “U.S. all-wheat exports are lowered 25 million bushels to 700 million bushels, the lowest since 1971/72.”
Grain Silos at Port of Reni on the Danube Damaged by Russian Drones, While “U.S. Presses New Routes for Grain Exports”
Reuters writer Pavel Polityuk reported today that, “Russian drone strikes damaged grain silos and warehouses at the Ukrainian river port of Reni on the Danube, a vital wartime route for Ukrainian food exports, senior officials said on Wednesday.”
China Expands Farmland in Food Security Push, as U.S. Corn, Soybean Conditions Improve
Earlier this week, Financial Times writer Sun Yu reported that, “In the western Chinese city of Chengdu, once popular hotpot restaurant Star Shining in the Clouds has closed its doors for the last time, one of several businesses to shut as the government tries to increase the amount of land under cultivation.”
Russia Fires Warning Shots at Black Sea Merchant Ship, as “Ukraine’s Grain Harvest This Year is Exceeding Expectations”
Reuters writer Guy Faulconbridge reported yesterday that, “A Russian warship on Sunday fired warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwestern Black Sea as it made its way northwards, the first time Russia has fired on merchant shipping beyond Ukraine since exiting a landmark UN-brokered grain deal last month.”
FAS: “2022/23 China Soybean Imports Raised to Record High”
In its monthly Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade report on Friday, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) indicated that, “This month, USDA raised 2022/23 (Oct-Sep) China soybean imports to a new record of 100.0 million tons.”
Ukraine Challenges Russian Black Sea Blockade with “Humanitarian Corridor,” While China Floods Hit Corn Crops
Jared Malsin and Anastasiia Malenko reported in today’s Wall Street Journal that, “Ukraine said it was opening temporary routes for civilian ships to sail from its Black Sea ports in a potential challenge to Russia’s attempt to blockade the country’s globally important food exports.”
More Heavy Rains Expected in China’s “Grain Basket,” While Black Sea Viewed as “Increasingly Dangerous Cauldron” of Tension
Bloomberg writer Hallie Gu reported today that, “China’s northeastern grain basket is bracing for more rains and flooding brought on by Typhoon Khanun, as producers struggle to recover from the impact of an earlier storm that ravaged farmland and destroyed crops.”
Wheat Climbs on Black Sea Tensions, While Heat Takes Toll on U.S. Cattle, and Low Mississippi River Water a Concern
Financial Times writer Gloria Li reported today that, “Wheat prices climbed on Monday after Ukraine’s drone strikes against a Russian naval vessel and oil tanker over the weekend raised concerns over the potential impact on supply from the world’s largest exporter.”
Threat of Violence in the Black Sea Expands
Financial Times writer Christopher Miller reported on Saturday that, “A Ukrainian naval drone has struck a Russian oil tanker in the Kerch Strait near Crimea, in the latest in a series of bold strikes that signal Kyiv’s use of unmanned vehicles is becoming more aggressive and effective.”
Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Black Sea Grain Export Port of Novorossiysk, as U.S. Grain Export Inspections Fall in Second Quarter
Bloomberg writer Ben Sharples reported today that, “Wheat futures rose after the Novorossiysk port was closed to marine traffic by Russian authorities following a drone attack.”
Amid Kremlin Grain Port Attacks, Farmers in Ukraine Cut Planting Area; as Midwest “Crop-Friendly” Weather Unfolds
Bloomberg writer Aine Quinn reported today that, “Major Ukrainian farm companies are curbing winter crop plantings after Russia blocked the main Black Sea export route, hitting world food supplies for the next two years.”
Danube River Port of Izmail Attacked, “Raising Further Concerns over Global Food Supplies”
Financial Times writers Christopher Miller and William Langley reported today that, “Russia attacked targets across Ukraine with drones before sunrise on Wednesday, hitting a critical river port facility and a grain silo in the southern Odesa region and raising further concerns over global food supplies.”
Russia Bombardment Against Ukrainian Grain Infrastructure Persists, as Romania Plans Transit Route Expansion
Marc Santora and Victoria Kim reported in Sunday’s New York Times that, “Russian forces struck a grain terminal in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday, extending a bombardment of the country’s infrastructure that has raised alarm about Kyiv’s ability to ship grain to the world.”
Russia Fires Missiles in Odesa Region From Black Sea Submarine, as NATO Steps Up Patrols
Reuters News reported today that, “Russian forces struck port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region in an overnight missile attack, killing a security guard and damaging a cargo terminal, the region’s governor said on Thursday.”