FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 18 December)
Ocean Freight Comments - 13 December 2024By Matt HerringtonDry bulk freight markets are in the middle of the holiday-season slowdown with thin and very quiet trade characterizing what little market activity is present. The peak demand period from the North American grain harvest has now past bu...
The Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFRICA – MEA REGIONAfrica spends $75 billion every year importing cereals according to the African Development Bank – 50 MMT being wheat – 27 MMT imported by North Africa, 12 MMT by East Africa and 9 MMT by West Africa. Wheat...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 9 August)
*** Developer Note ***This app is deprecated as of 13 August 2024 and will no longer be updated. Ocean Freight Comments - 9 August 2024By Matt HerringtonDry-bulk markets continue to chop sideways with gains one week yielding losses the next before gains emerge again. This past week was one...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s Ministry of Supply expects to receive 3.5 MMT of local wheat during the 2024 harvest that begins in April. In 2023, about 4 MMT was received by the government. Egypt has increased the purchase price...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 26 February–1 March 2024 Russian grain markets remained bearish following the global trend exports are the key driver. For several weeks in a row, Russian pea prices have climbed higher and higher and as long as there is no export duty for peas, this commodity will...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION BRICS membership increased on 1 January 2024 to include Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Ethiopia in addition to existing members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Further expansion is expected i...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Red Sea and Arabian Sea shipments in transit are being attacked by forces said to be from Yemen or Somalia. Attackers say that they are only attacking vessels with some relationship with Israel. Both Zim lines and...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Algeria’s wheat crop, according to the recent FAO report, will be down by 500,000 MT to 2.5 MMT due to drought which will see wheat imports increase to 9 MMT. Barley production will be the same as 2022 at 1...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan reports outbreaks of Fall Armyworms on maize crops in some areas of the country. The government says that the crops are now too mature for normal pesticide sprays. Pakistan could face a shortage of up to...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt and India are discussing a possible arrangement for the trade of Egyptian fertilizer for Indian wheat – an arrangement that could benefit both countries. Egypt is the world’s fifth largest export...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s wheat harvest of 27.5 MMT this year is still about 2.6 MMT short of the country’s consumption. Some imports have been made but there is still concern that there will be wheat/wheat flour sho...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s National Federation of Millers has advised that current wheat stocks will cover up to five months of cosumption and added that the current duty-free wheat imports through September will increase th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkey reports it will allow the export of both corn and durum wheat this year due to the bumper crop for both grains. Exports licenses have already been issued for durum wheat with corn licenses pending. Accordin...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s Forafric Global has bought 90 percent of Societe Industrielle de Minoterie Du Sud which is a Moroccan soft wheat miller. This acquisition will add 300 MT per day of milling capacity to Forafric. Mo...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is facing continued daily power cuts as the very high temperatures have increased electricity demand. Egypt does have sufficient electricity production but the reduction in fuel to the plants has caused gene...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Afghanistan will receive another 20,000 MT of wheat from India in a new donation to help overcome the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. India previously donated 40,000 MT of wheat. Wheat will be delivered throug...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Tunisian President Kais Saied said that efforts must be made to insure the adequate supply of grain and feed to all areas of the country. He added that all imports of grain and fodder must be controlled by the gov...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Afghanistan is facing a severe infestation of Moroccan locusts in the expected biggest outbreak in 20 years. Up to 25 percent of the current wheat crop, as much as 1.2 MMT, is said to be at risk. The locusts are e...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture said that 2023 cereals production should increase by 62 percent compared to the low drought affected crop of 2022. Total production is seen at 5.5 MMT up from 3.4 MMT. Soft...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan flour millers in Sindh Province are “alleging” that the government is not releasing wheat even after full payment has been made by millers. 500,000 bags of wheat were supposed to have been rel...
Mississippi River: From Drought to Flood
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the water level on the upper Mississippi River is expected to reach its highest since 2001. The NWS weather forecast station at La Crosse, Wisconsin, reports that “the chance for a top five flood on record is high at all sites.” Snow...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The Arab world is celebrating the end of Ramadan holiday. Businesses, banks, and government offices will be closed. Egypt’s holidays are longer due to Sinai Liberation Day holiday. Egypt says it will spend $...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is expected to have to devalue its currency again according to Societe Generale bank. It says that by the end of the next quarter about 10 percent will have to be devalued in order to meet foreign exchange p...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia received a 60,000 MT barley shipment from Australia financed by a joint arrangement between Salic Group and Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund. This is being done un...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egyptian government officials said the “dollar crisis” has now been corrected and that foreign payments are being made by banks and delayed goods are clearing customs. Extra efforts have been made to r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Jordan recently received very good rainfalls which the Ag Ministry says brought long awaited relief to farmers. Pastures should also be much better this year, which will be very beneficial to the dairy industry. T...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka will benefit from a program by Thailand and the United Nations to supply quality maize seed to help with increasing food security – the maize will be used in the livestock industry when harvested...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s COP27 conference has set a new “123 Pledge” program that is directed at reducing food waste in production, handling, retail and consumer levels. Fourteen percent of food is said to be los...
Transportation Workaround
A third of U.S. grain and oilseed exports move through New Orleans and nearly 40 percent if one includes the Texas Gulf ports. Another 15 percent moves out the PNW to Asia. But what happens when the Mississippi dries up? In older literature, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service does not...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran and Pakistan are expected to benefit from Azerbaijan lifting its export ban on grains. Talks with both countries are planned for next week to discuss shipping logistics and additional export opportunities. Pa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran’s government increased the purchase price of local wheat, to the equivalent of $430 MT. The government says that more than 7 MMT of local wheat has been purchased from farmers. The Iran Ag Ministry says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade says there is no reason for wheat flour prices to increase as the local supply is good and more milling wheat is expected from Dubai and Turkey. Sri Lanka is forecast, by USDA-F...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh semi-official reports say that a wheat import agreement for 500,000 MT is about to be signed with Russia, some reports say the agreement is for 350,000 MT. The government-to-government business is to be...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon officially rejected the first shipment of 26,000 MT of corn from the Ukraine on the M/V Razoni and further reports advise that the vessel will now discharge in Syria after a stop in Turkey. Ukraine will no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION MEA region barley buyers are looking more to French barley as supplies from the Black Sea are not available. Saudi Arabia and Iran are major barley buyers in France as are Tunisia and several African nations. Most...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon is scheduled to receive the first shipment of wheat from Ukraine’s Odessa port – the M/V Razani is reported to have sailed from Odessa with about 26,000 MT of wheat. The vessel will stop in Ist...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Middle Eastern and African buyers of Black Sea grains are looking with anticipation to the freeing up of grain/oilseed shipments from the Ukraine and Russia, as was agreed and signed last week. However, experts sa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s government will be selling 120,000 MT of wheat to the World Food Program (WFP) for the WFP’s Afghanistan relief program. The wheat supplied is expected to be imported wheat milled in Pakista...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Yemen is expected to be dependent on India for its wheat supply for 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. India is reported to have shipped 250,000 MT of wheat to Yemen since the invasion. Turkey is going...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is hoping to increase the 2023 planted area by 1 million acres. In order to do this, it will have to reclaim desert lands and use existing underground water supplies. Egypt also plans to improve the seed sto...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia’s Almarai Dairy Products will be investing $107 million in its poultry operations for expansion of grandparent stock and in seafood processing. In 2021 the company said that it would be doubling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran reports that its cereals imports for 2022/23 will drop by 25 percent due to a nearly 5 MMT increase in local cereals production. Wheat production is expected to increase by 4 MMT to 130 MMT with wheat imports...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has begun to harvest trial plantings of GMO wheat that is expected to increase crop yields by 33 percent. The wheat is said to be drought resistant and able to be grown in areas with high saline levels in th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The end of Ramadan means that the Middle East and North Africa will be on holiday from 30 April until about 5 May with some variation in dates depending on the country. Egypt will be closed for Eid El Fitr, follow...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s GASC is reportedly considering buying wheat directly from suppliers without international tenders. Offers directly from suppliers are expected to be consider for purchase and price negotiation by the...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt soybean/soymeal forecasts by USDA FAS show an increase in soybean imports for local crushing. Much of the increase is due to increased demand for soyoil for the retail sector and higher soymeal demand from a...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Israel, and South Africa are target countries in the region for India’s wheat export program in 2022. In 2021 the main region importers of Indian wheat were Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and UA...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has announced that Abu Dhabi Ports Group will build a multipurpose shipping terminal in Ain Sokhna Port on the west side of the Gulf of Suez. Ain Sokhna will shortly be connected by a rail network to the Med...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Ramadan is expected to begin on 2 April and end 1 May with the holiday of Eid Al Fitr beginning on 2 May. Egypt reports that 189,000 MT of wheat are enroute from the Black Sea with no delays – 63,000 MT each...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Ukraine grain shipments may still be possible even with the main export ports closed as the Ukraine railway operator has said grain can be delivered by rail to the borders with Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Pola...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkish officials have said that the Ukraine/Russia situation will not result in grain shortages in the country. Seventy-eight percent of Turkey’s grain imports come from Russia and Ukraine but both stocks a...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt’s Agricultural Bank is putting up EGP 4 billion (about U.S. $254 million) “to mitigate the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic”. All accounts with debts and defaults up to EGP 100,000 (U.S. $6,400) in...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan and India are having difficulty in agreeing on the method to move Indian wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistan. While the shipment of 50,000 MT has been approved by Pakistan, it is insisting on the use of Pakistan trucks and...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Bangladesh reports that the lowest offer under its 50,000 MT wheat tender is $409.77 MT CNF Liner Out with the other three offers ranging from $431.83 to 441.00. No purchase has been finalized yet. Iran is expected to leave the subsi...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Iraq says it intends to tender for 500,000 MT of wheat in December 2021 or early 2022. The tender will cover all wheat needs until the next harvest in May 2022. Pakistan may have given approval to the transport of Indian wheat, by ro...
House Ag Committee Supply Chain Hearing
Tomorrow, the House Agriculture Committee, will hold a hearing on “The Immediate Challenges to our Nation’s Food Supply Chain” – i.e., supply chain issues. The hearing comes as food inflation, processing bottlenecks, and export backlogs are gaining more attention prior t...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhara Holdings announced plans to build five animal feed facilities in Eastern Europe (Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria). The company’s first venture is a 120,000 MT per year feed mill in Serbia with 20,000 MT...
EO “Attempts” Competitive Ag Economy
Much of the Biden Administration’s agriculture agenda was furthered today by an Executive Order (EO) issued from the White House while Secretary Vilsack was in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to tout the plan. The order to Promote Competition in the American Economy is a broad reaching effort...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee has approved the importation of 3 MMT of wheat for strategic stocks. Tenders will be issued by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan with importation by PASSCO, the government storage ag...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA There hasn’t been this much news coverage of the Suez Canal since the crisis in 1956. Happily, the worst of the problem seems to be over with the grounded vessel now cleared and only the significant back-up of vessels to be dea...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The latest FAO report on Yemen shows that the 2020 grain harvest is down by about 5 percent at 365,000 MT and only covers less than 20 percent of the country's grain needs. Imports for 2021 are expected to be at 4.3 MMT: 3.2 MMT of w...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Reports in Nigeria say that some imported maize has arrived but that the moisture content is too high for immediate use in poultry feed. A total of 262,000 MT of maize was allowed to be imported and has arrived. Syria’s Economy Minis...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt’s Consumer Price Index for “urban consumers” is said to have increased 3.8 percent in August with the year to date increase at 107.5 percent. In the past month meat and poultry prices have moved lower while cereals...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Algeria’s change in wheat specifications for bug damage should allow Black Sea exporters to apply to be certified suppliers to Algeria. The change in bug damage – up from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent only affects 12.5 perce...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Competition Committee (CCP) has said that the government should reduce its role in the wheat sector and abandon its minimum support price fixing regime – this action should lead to an “increase in agricul...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The seventh cargo of wheat from India to Afghanistan has arrived in Iran’s Chabahar port for onward transport to Afghanistan – 8,800 MT were received in 352 containers. To date about 43,000 MT of the 75,000 MT of wheat donated...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA A group of Pakistan flour mills reportedly booked 60,000 MT of Black Sea wheat for September shipment at $227 MT CNF. Areas of Pakistan that have been under attack from desert locusts are now said to be seeing outbreaks of fall armyw...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The government of Lebanon has said that while the Beirut grain silos were destroyed, there should be no shortage of grain as discharge of grain vessels will move to Tripoli port. The government adds that there is about 1.5 months whe...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA News from the Middle East and North Africa is limited this week due to the Eid al Adha holidays in the area – the holiday is normally four or five days, depending on the country. The World Bank is providing $202 million for the...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The recent USDA-FAS report on Saudi Arabia’s barley trade says Arasco Saudi is marketing complete feed – Wafi brand – at a price about 20 percent lower than the price of imported barley. The report adds that this low pric...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Iran’s government has purchased 6 MMT of local wheat on its way to a total of 11 MMT. The wheat is being bought at a government set price to help control domestic wheat prices and to build wheat safety reserves. According to the late...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Saudi Arabia’s SAGO has sold parts of two of the four flour milling operations covered by their milling privatization program. The First Milling Company was sold to Raha Al Safi consortium for $540 million and the Third Milling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA In Pakistan, it appears likely that the government will import as much as 1.4 MMT of wheat. International wheat prices to Pakistan are expected to be as much as 25 percent higher than the current price for local wheat. The government says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA According to the June EU MARS report, there are variable weather conditions for the cereal campaign in North Africa with the only area of concern being drought in the western and central Maghreb. For the second year in a row, Morocco...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan has lifted the ban on the interprovincial transport of wheat and has also removed the import duty on wheat. Wheat and wheat flour shortages have developed in some parts of the country and these government actions are expecte...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt reports that 3.1 MMT of local wheat have been purchased by the government. The targeted purchase level of 3.6 MMT is expected to be reached. Pakistan has removed the ban on the transportation of wheat between provinces and has tempor...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, west of Karachi, has received its first vessel of wheat and fertilizer that is being transshipped by truck to Afghanistan. Gwadar is a deep draft port that can handle large vessels and offers a shorter r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Gemcorp Commodities is reportedly supplying 200,000 MT of Russian wheat to Ethiopia with the results of a recent tender. Shipment will be of 11.5 percent protein wheat. Gemcorp supplied Ukraine and Argentina wheat to Ethiopia in 2019...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The United Nations reportedly purchased 80,000 MT of Ukraine wheat for Sudan that will be shipped in two 40,000 MT lots in May and July. This is part of the UN food aid program. Financial experts are forecasting a 2020 drop in the va...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Morocco has announced that the suspension of duty on common wheat will be extended beyond 15 June until the end of December 2020. With the local wheat harvest forecast to be much below normal the government wants to ensure that wheat...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt reports that local wheat purchases by the government are now at 1 MMT well on the way to the target of 3.6 MMT. However, local press says that purchases are actually closer to 600,000 MT. Coronavirus restrictions in Egypt do no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Saudi Arabia’s SAGO purchased 60,000 MT of Ukraine wheat from SALIC (Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company). This is a direct purchase from a Saudi investment company overseas rather than an international tender...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Corn and wheat imports in the region could find sourcing more difficult with Romania banning exports of both for the next couple of months. Turkey is normally a buyer of Romanian corn as are most other eastern Mediterranean countries...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: The Master of the M/V Tomini Destiny has refused to allow discharge of a bulk cargo in Bangladesh due to concerns over the added risk of COVID-19 from local stevedores. This is probably the first reported problem of this type, but it will...
Bulk Freight Rates Fall
Egypt is reportedly switching from purchasing grain FOB and then managing its own freight risks to buying C&F so that suppliers bear any higher costs in volatile markets. Freight rates have been falling and should continue to do so as the global economy goes into recession. Bulk shipping ch...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: Morocco has removed the import duty on soft wheat and durum wheat until 15 June. The Morocco Ag Ministry reports that soft wheat stocks will cover three months normal consumption but a sudden jump in demand related to COVID-19 will reduce...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates It might be a good idea for all people in the grain business, with an eye to COVID-19, to read section 21 of GAFTA contract #27: “Prevention of Shipment”. This section, which is included in most GAFTA contracts, helps to clarify buyer/seller situation in the case of...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt has seen very unseasonal rains recently and there is concern that the local wheat crop may be damaged due to flooding in many areas. The complaints and worries about rain are not country wide as some agricultural products, like alfal...
BDI is Fishy
As fear of the coronavirus causes money to rush out of equities and commodities, why are bulk shipping rates rising? The transportation segment is complex. Airlines are forecast to take a $100 billion dollar hit this year as their traffic drops, but trucking keeps trucking along. The Baltic Dry...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Egypt has said that wheat production for 2020 should reach about 9.5 MMT with between 3.0 and 3.5 MMT being purchased by the government. According to U.S. export inspection information, Egypt’s purchase of U.S. soybeans doub...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Egypt has announced that the population of the country has just reached 100 million people. Egypt will set up its first commodity exchange by January 2021 – wheat, corn, rice and sugar are the initial commodities that will b...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Pakistan has declared a national emergency due to the spread of desert locusts in the eastern part of the country. They say that it is the worst infestation in 20 years – one that could decimate local grain crops. The locust...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Iran remains the largest regional buyer of Indian soymeal (soybean extract). A total of 130,000 MT was shipped to MENA in the April/December 2019 crop period with just over 87,000 MT going to Iran. However, Iran’s imports ar...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS The government of Pakistan has announced that 400,000 MT of wheat will be imported, duty free, to cover the existing wheat shortage and to get wheat flour prices back to a more normal level. The importation will be allowed up unti...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Egypt says that it will establish a commodities exchange for the trading of items that will include wheat, sugar, corn and rice – both locally produced and imported. They say that it will be in place in the next 36 to 48 weeks. Several q...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The ports of Alexandria and Dekheila on the Mediterranean in Egypt have reopened after being closed for two days due to bad weather. Ships at berth were allowed to continue loading or discharging but no vessels were allowed to enter or leave t...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 18 December)
Ocean Freight Comments - 13 December 2024By Matt HerringtonDry bulk freight markets are in the middle of the holiday-season slowdown with thin and very quiet trade characterizing what little market activity is present. The peak demand period from the North American grain harvest has now past bu...
The Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFRICA – MEA REGIONAfrica spends $75 billion every year importing cereals according to the African Development Bank – 50 MMT being wheat – 27 MMT imported by North Africa, 12 MMT by East Africa and 9 MMT by West Africa. Wheat...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 9 August)
*** Developer Note ***This app is deprecated as of 13 August 2024 and will no longer be updated. Ocean Freight Comments - 9 August 2024By Matt HerringtonDry-bulk markets continue to chop sideways with gains one week yielding losses the next before gains emerge again. This past week was one...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s Ministry of Supply expects to receive 3.5 MMT of local wheat during the 2024 harvest that begins in April. In 2023, about 4 MMT was received by the government. Egypt has increased the purchase price...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 26 February–1 March 2024 Russian grain markets remained bearish following the global trend exports are the key driver. For several weeks in a row, Russian pea prices have climbed higher and higher and as long as there is no export duty for peas, this commodity will...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION BRICS membership increased on 1 January 2024 to include Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Ethiopia in addition to existing members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Further expansion is expected i...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Red Sea and Arabian Sea shipments in transit are being attacked by forces said to be from Yemen or Somalia. Attackers say that they are only attacking vessels with some relationship with Israel. Both Zim lines and...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Algeria’s wheat crop, according to the recent FAO report, will be down by 500,000 MT to 2.5 MMT due to drought which will see wheat imports increase to 9 MMT. Barley production will be the same as 2022 at 1...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan reports outbreaks of Fall Armyworms on maize crops in some areas of the country. The government says that the crops are now too mature for normal pesticide sprays. Pakistan could face a shortage of up to...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt and India are discussing a possible arrangement for the trade of Egyptian fertilizer for Indian wheat – an arrangement that could benefit both countries. Egypt is the world’s fifth largest export...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s wheat harvest of 27.5 MMT this year is still about 2.6 MMT short of the country’s consumption. Some imports have been made but there is still concern that there will be wheat/wheat flour sho...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s National Federation of Millers has advised that current wheat stocks will cover up to five months of cosumption and added that the current duty-free wheat imports through September will increase th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkey reports it will allow the export of both corn and durum wheat this year due to the bumper crop for both grains. Exports licenses have already been issued for durum wheat with corn licenses pending. Accordin...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s Forafric Global has bought 90 percent of Societe Industrielle de Minoterie Du Sud which is a Moroccan soft wheat miller. This acquisition will add 300 MT per day of milling capacity to Forafric. Mo...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is facing continued daily power cuts as the very high temperatures have increased electricity demand. Egypt does have sufficient electricity production but the reduction in fuel to the plants has caused gene...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Afghanistan will receive another 20,000 MT of wheat from India in a new donation to help overcome the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. India previously donated 40,000 MT of wheat. Wheat will be delivered throug...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Tunisian President Kais Saied said that efforts must be made to insure the adequate supply of grain and feed to all areas of the country. He added that all imports of grain and fodder must be controlled by the gov...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Afghanistan is facing a severe infestation of Moroccan locusts in the expected biggest outbreak in 20 years. Up to 25 percent of the current wheat crop, as much as 1.2 MMT, is said to be at risk. The locusts are e...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture said that 2023 cereals production should increase by 62 percent compared to the low drought affected crop of 2022. Total production is seen at 5.5 MMT up from 3.4 MMT. Soft...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan flour millers in Sindh Province are “alleging” that the government is not releasing wheat even after full payment has been made by millers. 500,000 bags of wheat were supposed to have been rel...
Mississippi River: From Drought to Flood
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the water level on the upper Mississippi River is expected to reach its highest since 2001. The NWS weather forecast station at La Crosse, Wisconsin, reports that “the chance for a top five flood on record is high at all sites.” Snow...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The Arab world is celebrating the end of Ramadan holiday. Businesses, banks, and government offices will be closed. Egypt’s holidays are longer due to Sinai Liberation Day holiday. Egypt says it will spend $...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is expected to have to devalue its currency again according to Societe Generale bank. It says that by the end of the next quarter about 10 percent will have to be devalued in order to meet foreign exchange p...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia received a 60,000 MT barley shipment from Australia financed by a joint arrangement between Salic Group and Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund. This is being done un...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egyptian government officials said the “dollar crisis” has now been corrected and that foreign payments are being made by banks and delayed goods are clearing customs. Extra efforts have been made to r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Jordan recently received very good rainfalls which the Ag Ministry says brought long awaited relief to farmers. Pastures should also be much better this year, which will be very beneficial to the dairy industry. T...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka will benefit from a program by Thailand and the United Nations to supply quality maize seed to help with increasing food security – the maize will be used in the livestock industry when harvested...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s COP27 conference has set a new “123 Pledge” program that is directed at reducing food waste in production, handling, retail and consumer levels. Fourteen percent of food is said to be los...
Transportation Workaround
A third of U.S. grain and oilseed exports move through New Orleans and nearly 40 percent if one includes the Texas Gulf ports. Another 15 percent moves out the PNW to Asia. But what happens when the Mississippi dries up? In older literature, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service does not...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran and Pakistan are expected to benefit from Azerbaijan lifting its export ban on grains. Talks with both countries are planned for next week to discuss shipping logistics and additional export opportunities. Pa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran’s government increased the purchase price of local wheat, to the equivalent of $430 MT. The government says that more than 7 MMT of local wheat has been purchased from farmers. The Iran Ag Ministry says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade says there is no reason for wheat flour prices to increase as the local supply is good and more milling wheat is expected from Dubai and Turkey. Sri Lanka is forecast, by USDA-F...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh semi-official reports say that a wheat import agreement for 500,000 MT is about to be signed with Russia, some reports say the agreement is for 350,000 MT. The government-to-government business is to be...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon officially rejected the first shipment of 26,000 MT of corn from the Ukraine on the M/V Razoni and further reports advise that the vessel will now discharge in Syria after a stop in Turkey. Ukraine will no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION MEA region barley buyers are looking more to French barley as supplies from the Black Sea are not available. Saudi Arabia and Iran are major barley buyers in France as are Tunisia and several African nations. Most...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon is scheduled to receive the first shipment of wheat from Ukraine’s Odessa port – the M/V Razani is reported to have sailed from Odessa with about 26,000 MT of wheat. The vessel will stop in Ist...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Middle Eastern and African buyers of Black Sea grains are looking with anticipation to the freeing up of grain/oilseed shipments from the Ukraine and Russia, as was agreed and signed last week. However, experts sa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s government will be selling 120,000 MT of wheat to the World Food Program (WFP) for the WFP’s Afghanistan relief program. The wheat supplied is expected to be imported wheat milled in Pakista...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Yemen is expected to be dependent on India for its wheat supply for 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. India is reported to have shipped 250,000 MT of wheat to Yemen since the invasion. Turkey is going...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is hoping to increase the 2023 planted area by 1 million acres. In order to do this, it will have to reclaim desert lands and use existing underground water supplies. Egypt also plans to improve the seed sto...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia’s Almarai Dairy Products will be investing $107 million in its poultry operations for expansion of grandparent stock and in seafood processing. In 2021 the company said that it would be doubling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran reports that its cereals imports for 2022/23 will drop by 25 percent due to a nearly 5 MMT increase in local cereals production. Wheat production is expected to increase by 4 MMT to 130 MMT with wheat imports...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has begun to harvest trial plantings of GMO wheat that is expected to increase crop yields by 33 percent. The wheat is said to be drought resistant and able to be grown in areas with high saline levels in th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The end of Ramadan means that the Middle East and North Africa will be on holiday from 30 April until about 5 May with some variation in dates depending on the country. Egypt will be closed for Eid El Fitr, follow...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s GASC is reportedly considering buying wheat directly from suppliers without international tenders. Offers directly from suppliers are expected to be consider for purchase and price negotiation by the...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt soybean/soymeal forecasts by USDA FAS show an increase in soybean imports for local crushing. Much of the increase is due to increased demand for soyoil for the retail sector and higher soymeal demand from a...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Israel, and South Africa are target countries in the region for India’s wheat export program in 2022. In 2021 the main region importers of Indian wheat were Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and UA...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has announced that Abu Dhabi Ports Group will build a multipurpose shipping terminal in Ain Sokhna Port on the west side of the Gulf of Suez. Ain Sokhna will shortly be connected by a rail network to the Med...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Ramadan is expected to begin on 2 April and end 1 May with the holiday of Eid Al Fitr beginning on 2 May. Egypt reports that 189,000 MT of wheat are enroute from the Black Sea with no delays – 63,000 MT each...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Ukraine grain shipments may still be possible even with the main export ports closed as the Ukraine railway operator has said grain can be delivered by rail to the borders with Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Pola...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkish officials have said that the Ukraine/Russia situation will not result in grain shortages in the country. Seventy-eight percent of Turkey’s grain imports come from Russia and Ukraine but both stocks a...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt’s Agricultural Bank is putting up EGP 4 billion (about U.S. $254 million) “to mitigate the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic”. All accounts with debts and defaults up to EGP 100,000 (U.S. $6,400) in...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan and India are having difficulty in agreeing on the method to move Indian wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistan. While the shipment of 50,000 MT has been approved by Pakistan, it is insisting on the use of Pakistan trucks and...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Bangladesh reports that the lowest offer under its 50,000 MT wheat tender is $409.77 MT CNF Liner Out with the other three offers ranging from $431.83 to 441.00. No purchase has been finalized yet. Iran is expected to leave the subsi...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Iraq says it intends to tender for 500,000 MT of wheat in December 2021 or early 2022. The tender will cover all wheat needs until the next harvest in May 2022. Pakistan may have given approval to the transport of Indian wheat, by ro...
House Ag Committee Supply Chain Hearing
Tomorrow, the House Agriculture Committee, will hold a hearing on “The Immediate Challenges to our Nation’s Food Supply Chain” – i.e., supply chain issues. The hearing comes as food inflation, processing bottlenecks, and export backlogs are gaining more attention prior t...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhara Holdings announced plans to build five animal feed facilities in Eastern Europe (Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria). The company’s first venture is a 120,000 MT per year feed mill in Serbia with 20,000 MT...
EO “Attempts” Competitive Ag Economy
Much of the Biden Administration’s agriculture agenda was furthered today by an Executive Order (EO) issued from the White House while Secretary Vilsack was in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to tout the plan. The order to Promote Competition in the American Economy is a broad reaching effort...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee has approved the importation of 3 MMT of wheat for strategic stocks. Tenders will be issued by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan with importation by PASSCO, the government storage ag...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA There hasn’t been this much news coverage of the Suez Canal since the crisis in 1956. Happily, the worst of the problem seems to be over with the grounded vessel now cleared and only the significant back-up of vessels to be dea...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The latest FAO report on Yemen shows that the 2020 grain harvest is down by about 5 percent at 365,000 MT and only covers less than 20 percent of the country's grain needs. Imports for 2021 are expected to be at 4.3 MMT: 3.2 MMT of w...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Reports in Nigeria say that some imported maize has arrived but that the moisture content is too high for immediate use in poultry feed. A total of 262,000 MT of maize was allowed to be imported and has arrived. Syria’s Economy Minis...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt’s Consumer Price Index for “urban consumers” is said to have increased 3.8 percent in August with the year to date increase at 107.5 percent. In the past month meat and poultry prices have moved lower while cereals...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Algeria’s change in wheat specifications for bug damage should allow Black Sea exporters to apply to be certified suppliers to Algeria. The change in bug damage – up from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent only affects 12.5 perce...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Competition Committee (CCP) has said that the government should reduce its role in the wheat sector and abandon its minimum support price fixing regime – this action should lead to an “increase in agricul...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The seventh cargo of wheat from India to Afghanistan has arrived in Iran’s Chabahar port for onward transport to Afghanistan – 8,800 MT were received in 352 containers. To date about 43,000 MT of the 75,000 MT of wheat donated...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA A group of Pakistan flour mills reportedly booked 60,000 MT of Black Sea wheat for September shipment at $227 MT CNF. Areas of Pakistan that have been under attack from desert locusts are now said to be seeing outbreaks of fall armyw...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The government of Lebanon has said that while the Beirut grain silos were destroyed, there should be no shortage of grain as discharge of grain vessels will move to Tripoli port. The government adds that there is about 1.5 months whe...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA News from the Middle East and North Africa is limited this week due to the Eid al Adha holidays in the area – the holiday is normally four or five days, depending on the country. The World Bank is providing $202 million for the...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The recent USDA-FAS report on Saudi Arabia’s barley trade says Arasco Saudi is marketing complete feed – Wafi brand – at a price about 20 percent lower than the price of imported barley. The report adds that this low pric...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Iran’s government has purchased 6 MMT of local wheat on its way to a total of 11 MMT. The wheat is being bought at a government set price to help control domestic wheat prices and to build wheat safety reserves. According to the late...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Saudi Arabia’s SAGO has sold parts of two of the four flour milling operations covered by their milling privatization program. The First Milling Company was sold to Raha Al Safi consortium for $540 million and the Third Milling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA In Pakistan, it appears likely that the government will import as much as 1.4 MMT of wheat. International wheat prices to Pakistan are expected to be as much as 25 percent higher than the current price for local wheat. The government says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA According to the June EU MARS report, there are variable weather conditions for the cereal campaign in North Africa with the only area of concern being drought in the western and central Maghreb. For the second year in a row, Morocco...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan has lifted the ban on the interprovincial transport of wheat and has also removed the import duty on wheat. Wheat and wheat flour shortages have developed in some parts of the country and these government actions are expecte...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt reports that 3.1 MMT of local wheat have been purchased by the government. The targeted purchase level of 3.6 MMT is expected to be reached. Pakistan has removed the ban on the transportation of wheat between provinces and has tempor...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, west of Karachi, has received its first vessel of wheat and fertilizer that is being transshipped by truck to Afghanistan. Gwadar is a deep draft port that can handle large vessels and offers a shorter r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Gemcorp Commodities is reportedly supplying 200,000 MT of Russian wheat to Ethiopia with the results of a recent tender. Shipment will be of 11.5 percent protein wheat. Gemcorp supplied Ukraine and Argentina wheat to Ethiopia in 2019...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA The United Nations reportedly purchased 80,000 MT of Ukraine wheat for Sudan that will be shipped in two 40,000 MT lots in May and July. This is part of the UN food aid program. Financial experts are forecasting a 2020 drop in the va...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Morocco has announced that the suspension of duty on common wheat will be extended beyond 15 June until the end of December 2020. With the local wheat harvest forecast to be much below normal the government wants to ensure that wheat...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt reports that local wheat purchases by the government are now at 1 MMT well on the way to the target of 3.6 MMT. However, local press says that purchases are actually closer to 600,000 MT. Coronavirus restrictions in Egypt do no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Saudi Arabia’s SAGO purchased 60,000 MT of Ukraine wheat from SALIC (Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company). This is a direct purchase from a Saudi investment company overseas rather than an international tender...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Corn and wheat imports in the region could find sourcing more difficult with Romania banning exports of both for the next couple of months. Turkey is normally a buyer of Romanian corn as are most other eastern Mediterranean countries...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: The Master of the M/V Tomini Destiny has refused to allow discharge of a bulk cargo in Bangladesh due to concerns over the added risk of COVID-19 from local stevedores. This is probably the first reported problem of this type, but it will...
Bulk Freight Rates Fall
Egypt is reportedly switching from purchasing grain FOB and then managing its own freight risks to buying C&F so that suppliers bear any higher costs in volatile markets. Freight rates have been falling and should continue to do so as the global economy goes into recession. Bulk shipping ch...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: Morocco has removed the import duty on soft wheat and durum wheat until 15 June. The Morocco Ag Ministry reports that soft wheat stocks will cover three months normal consumption but a sudden jump in demand related to COVID-19 will reduce...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates It might be a good idea for all people in the grain business, with an eye to COVID-19, to read section 21 of GAFTA contract #27: “Prevention of Shipment”. This section, which is included in most GAFTA contracts, helps to clarify buyer/seller situation in the case of...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt has seen very unseasonal rains recently and there is concern that the local wheat crop may be damaged due to flooding in many areas. The complaints and worries about rain are not country wide as some agricultural products, like alfal...
BDI is Fishy
As fear of the coronavirus causes money to rush out of equities and commodities, why are bulk shipping rates rising? The transportation segment is complex. Airlines are forecast to take a $100 billion dollar hit this year as their traffic drops, but trucking keeps trucking along. The Baltic Dry...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Egypt has said that wheat production for 2020 should reach about 9.5 MMT with between 3.0 and 3.5 MMT being purchased by the government. According to U.S. export inspection information, Egypt’s purchase of U.S. soybeans doub...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Egypt has announced that the population of the country has just reached 100 million people. Egypt will set up its first commodity exchange by January 2021 – wheat, corn, rice and sugar are the initial commodities that will b...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Pakistan has declared a national emergency due to the spread of desert locusts in the eastern part of the country. They say that it is the worst infestation in 20 years – one that could decimate local grain crops. The locust...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS Iran remains the largest regional buyer of Indian soymeal (soybean extract). A total of 130,000 MT was shipped to MENA in the April/December 2019 crop period with just over 87,000 MT going to Iran. However, Iran’s imports ar...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA COMMENTS The government of Pakistan has announced that 400,000 MT of wheat will be imported, duty free, to cover the existing wheat shortage and to get wheat flour prices back to a more normal level. The importation will be allowed up unti...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Egypt says that it will establish a commodities exchange for the trading of items that will include wheat, sugar, corn and rice – both locally produced and imported. They say that it will be in place in the next 36 to 48 weeks. Several q...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The ports of Alexandria and Dekheila on the Mediterranean in Egypt have reopened after being closed for two days due to bad weather. Ships at berth were allowed to continue loading or discharging but no vessels were allowed to enter or leave t...