Archive for June, 2021

BRASILIA, BRAZIL — Delayed planting and continued dry conditions has dropped Brazil’s estimated corn production 11 million tonnes, to 94 million tonnes, for the 2020-21 marketing year, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

If realized, the 2020-21 marketing year corn production would be the lowest Brazilian corn production volume since the 2017-18 marketing year, which also was challenged by drought.

The USDA also has reduced its 2020-21 marketing year corn export forecast ...

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA — The support of the Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) merger with Kansas City Southern (KCS) continues to roll in but so does opposition.

Originally a merger agreement was tentatively set between Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP) and KCS but was later terminated after CN put in a competitive offer. Since, CN and KCS have been making steps to finalize the merger, highlighting the idea that the grain industry will benefit from it once complete.

According to CN, the ...

The tropics are the hottest climate zone on earth. In the countries near the equator, average temperatures range between 25°C and 27°C, and although the efficient and safe handling and storage of grain is a crucial issue everywhere, heavy rains, high ambient temperatures and relative humidity in tropical environments pose significant challenges, such as:

Processing losses. A large proportion of grain losses occur in storage, but high air temperature and higher humidity of ambient air make the proper drying and storage ...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The European Commission on June 24 revised down its soft wheat production forecast for the European Union in marketing year 2021-22, to 125.8 million tonnes compared with last month’s projection of 126.2 million.

If realized, the output would still be 7% higher than last year’s drought-affected total of 117.2 million tonnes.

The Commission pegs soft wheat exports from the EU’s 27 member countries at 30 million tonnes in 2021-22, compared to this year’s projected total of 27 million tonnes. ...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Under its new “Farm to Fork” strategy, the European Union will see reduced grain production and could become a net importer, according to an impact assessment from Coceral, a European association representing the trade in cereals and other agricultural products.

The strategy aims to curb the environmental impact of agriculture, which is the most frequently reported source of pressure on Europe’s habitats and species and is responsible for 10% of EU greenhouse gas emissions.

During Coceral’s June 23 online ...

LONDON, ENGLAND – Although record global grain production is forecast for the current marketing year, which ends June 30, the International Grains Council (IGC) sees carryover stocks falling to a six-year low due to a strong rise in consumption.

In its most recent Grain Market Report, released on June 24, the IGC pegs 2020-21 total grains production at 2.216 billion tonnes, 3 million tonnes lower than the previous month but higher than last year’s record crop of 2.186 million tonnes.

The IGC ...

BEIJING, CHINA — COFCO International, a China-based agribusiness giant, said it remains committed to sustainable business and agriculture practices despite the challenges presented in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the pressing need to build resilience in our food system, and change our relationship with nature,” said David Dong, chief executive officer of COFCO International. “This must take place amid heightened economic pressure, volatile markets and the pressing challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity.”

The ...

Among issues preoccupying food business executives during the COVID-19 pandemic, none has been more pressing than identifying which shifts in consumer demand will endure. Valuable insights into the larger picture emerge in the most recent flour production statistics from the US Department of Agriculture. The data at the same time underscore the challenge of precisely divining where underlying trends are headed.

At first blush, the top-line figure for January-March 2021 flour production was worrisome. At 103,634,000 cwts, first-quarter production was down ...