International

According to Russia’s Ag. Minister the recent frosts have damaged around 830,000ha of 2024-25 crop area, estimated to be about 1pc of total area. The frosts initially impacted the regions of Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Tambov, with emergency states declared, and by 15 May additional regions including Volgograd, Oryol, Penza, and Rostov were also affected. The damage has significantly impacted various crops such as fruit trees, corn, grains, oilseeds, and sugar beets. 

Buenos Aires Grain Exchange reported that for the week ending 16 May, 2023-24 maize harvest was 25pc complete (25pc, previous year), with conditions rated 54pc fair/excellent (58pc previous week, 47pc previous year). Fieldwork progressed slowly as growers waited for optimal humidity. Soybean harvest was 64pc complete (48pc, 69pc), with conditions rated 72pc fair/excellent (74pc, 44pc). Reflecting poorer than anticipated productivity in north-eastern regions following hot and dry weather in March, production forecast cut by 500,000t, to 50.5Mt. 

The Saskatchewan Crop Report noted that for the week ending 13 May, 2024-25 spring seeding was 32pc complete (38pc previous year, 54pc five-year avg), including spring wheat at 36pc (43pc), durum at 38pc (38pc), barley at 30pc (38pc), and canola 17pc (19pc). Provincial topsoil moisture remained adequate. 

Stratégie Grains have revised up its 2024-25 European all-wheat production forecast by 1.7Mt, to 130.9Mt (133.5Mt previous year), largely reflecting improved growing conditions in Romania and Bulgaria, as well as another upward revision for productivity in Spain. Barley production is also up by 0.6Mt, with an increased outlook for Spain more than offsetting reduced prospects for Denmark, Ireland and France It estimated total barley at  53.0Mt (47.4Mt), with winter barley up by 0.4Mt, to 28.6Mt (29.9Mt), and spring barley up by 0.1Mt, to 24.4Mt (17.5Mt). However, following the return of rainfall in western European countries over recent weeks, it was deemed unlikely that there would be any further upward revisions. Maize production was trimmed by 0.1Mt, to 63.3Mt (62.4Mt). Sowing progressed well in southern and south-eastern Europe, although rain hampered the pace of fieldwork in France. 

FranceAgriMer reported that as at 17 May, 2024-25 common wheat crop condition rated 64pc good/excellent (64pc previous week, 93pc previous year), durum 66pc (65pc, 87pc), winter barley 66pc (66pc, 90pc), and spring barley 74pc (74pc, 95pc). Maize plantings were 72pc done (54pc, 85pc). 

Germany’s National Statistics Agency pegged 2024-25 winter wheat area at 2.6Mha (-8pc yoy) and winter barley at 1.3Mha (+3pc). Canola area was pegged at 1.1Mha (-6pc). Heavy rainfall during the autumn of 2023 hampered 2024-25 winter crop fieldwork, with some areas requiring replanting and an increase in spring crop area. 2024-25 spring grains area was pegged at 1.1Mha (+20pc), including spring barley at 363,000ha (+13pc). Maize area forecast at 518,000ha (+11pc). 

Japan’s MAFF reportedly purchased 121,516t milling wheat in its regular tender, including 10,820t US WW, 13,080t US HRW, 67,806t CWRS (min. 13.5pc protein) from Canada, and 29,810t ASW, all for Jul/Aug loading. 

Private Thai importers reportedly purchased 60,000t feed wheat from optional origins, at US$289-290/t c&f for Jun/Jul shipment.

Australia