Reading Time: 2 minutes Ankara | Reuters — Russia’s ambassador to Turkey said on Friday that Moscow sends its representatives to more ship inspections in Istanbul per day than mandated under the Black Sea grain deal, rejecting a Ukrainian accusation that Russia is slowing down the process. Ukraine’s grain exports have proceeded more slowly since a U.N.-brokered deal was […] Read more
Russia denies slowing inspections for Ukraine grain ships
Ukraine alleges slow pace 'probably with intent'
EU cuts estimate of drought-hit maize crop, raises import outlook
Commission cuts soft wheat exports, raises imports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — The European Commission on Friday cut its estimate of this year’s drought-hit maize harvest in the European Union to a new 15-year low while again raising its projection for this season’s maize imports. European maize (corn) crops endured severe drought and several heatwaves during the crucial summer growth period. The Commission […] Read more
Black Sea grain export deal extended
Deal's terms unchanged; Moscow to still seek removal of obstacles to grain, fertilizer exports
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters — A deal aimed at easing global food shortages by helping Ukraine export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports was extended for four months on Thursday, though Russia said its own demands were yet to be fully addressed. The agreement, initially reached in July, created a protected transit corridor and was designed to […] Read more
Reasons for optimism seen on renewal for Ukraine grain deal
Deal set to roll over on Saturday
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — A United Nations source on Wednesday said they have reasons to be “cautiously optimistic” on the renewal of a Black Sea grains export agreement, which is set to roll over on Saturday unless there are objections. The U.N.-backed agreement on July 22 allowed grain shipments to resume from certain Ukrainian ports on the […] Read more
U.N.’s Black Sea grain deal continues without Russia
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters – Grain was flowing out of Ukraine at a record pace on Monday under an initiative led by the United Nations aimed at easing global food shortages despite Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the scheme. Russia said on Saturday it was pulling out of the deal, which ensured safe passage […] Read more
Russian drones hit sunflower oil terminal, Mykolaiv mayor says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Kyiv | Reuters — Russian kamikaze drones hit tanks with sunflower oil at one of the terminals in the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv late on Sunday, the city mayor said on Monday. One of Ukraine’s largest ports, Mykolaiv halted shipments at the start of the Russian invasion, but Ukraine is pushing to open the […] Read more
Russia says annual grain harvest to grow thanks to ‘new territories’
Reading Time: < 1 minute London | Reuters — Russia’s grain harvest is set to grow by about five million tonnes a year thanks to its incorporation of four Ukrainian territories, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said Tuesday. “Considering the arable land that exists there, I think at least five million tonnes of grain will be added to the Russian savings […] Read more
Bunge to sell oilseed processing business in Russia
Grain firms scaling back Russian business
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Agricultural commodities trader Bunge said Monday it has agreed to sell its oilseed processing business in Russia to Karen Vanetsyan, the controlling shareholder of Exoil Group. The sale includes the sunflower processing plant in Voronezh. Bunge and its rivals ADM, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus — part of the so-called ABCD quartet of global […] Read more
Manitoba’s sunflower crop smaller, better
Global supply, demand outlooks remain uncertain
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — If Canada’s 2022 sunflower seed harvest is to be the lowest in five years, you wouldn’t know it talking to producers of the crop. In its July satellite image-based principal field crops estimates released Monday, Statistics Canada projected sunflower seed production for the 2022-23 marketing year at 61,996 tonnes, 24.2 per cent lower […] Read more
Ukraine seeks to extend shipping safe passage deal beyond grain
Reading Time: 3 minutes Istanbul/Kyiv | Reuters – Three grain ships left Ukrainian ports on Friday while the first inbound cargo vessel since Russia’s invasion was due in Ukraine to load, as Kyiv called for the safe passage deal to be extended to other cargoes such as metals. The July 22 deal marked a rare diplomatic breakthrough as war […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
