UNTIMELY RAINS IMPACTING FRENCH GRAINS
Recent rains have dampened the outlook for France’s wheat and barley while slowing maize (corn) planting in the European Union’s largest grains producer. The condition of French soft wheat declined slightly last week to remain at a four-year low. Some 63% of French soft wheat was rated as in good or excellent condition by May 20, down from 64% a week earlier. The good/excellent score for durum wheat, used in pasta, fell to 64% from 66% the previous week. For barley, the winter barley rating was unchanged on the week at 66% while the spring barley score fell to 73% from 74%. Farmers had sown 78% of the expected maize area compared with 73% a week earlier.
(Link: WorldGrain)
ARGENTINA ON TRACK TO START CORN EXPORTS TO CHINA IN JULY
Argentina is on track to start long-awaited corn shipments to China from July, which would be a major boost for the South American nation, the world’s no. 3 supplier of the grain. Argentina’s government previously said it was aiming to start corn exports to China by July, but that there were pending administrative procedures to obtain import licenses. The two countries struck an initial agreement last year to open up exports of Argentine corn to China, but official data show that no shipments of cereal have been made to Chinese ports since it was signed, with outstanding issues to resolve.
The two countries had over a decade ago tried to open up the trade of Argentine corn, most of which is genetically modified. A small amount was allowed into China in 2012 as a test, but Beijing’s concerns around GMO held things back. Earlier on Tuesday, Argentina’s government said that China had authorized for import two varieties of herbicide tolerant GMO corn that are grown in the country, easing the passage for exports and helping Chinese importers to get permits. Argentine farmers are in the initial stages of harvesting corn for the 2023/24 season, whose production is estimated at 47.5 million tons by the major Rosario grains exchange.
(Link: Reuters)
