South Africa is expected to have to import about 800,000 MT of maize this crop year to cover a drought-induced shortage. These are the first significant maize imports for that country in seven years.

  Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Ukraine: There was a Ukraine trade rumor late last week that was of great interest to MENA wheat importers: it has been said (but unconfirmed) that the Ukraine is discussing putting quotas on wheat exports this season due to the expected poor winter crop resulting in possible short supplies after the 2016 harvest. Egypt: The Egyptian government has decided that its local purchases of wheat will be done on the basis of an average global price rather than the somewhat arbitrary pric...