Reading Time: 2 minutes Istanbul/United Nations | Reuters — Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will sign a deal on Friday to resume Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s office said Thursday. Russia and Ukraine are both major global wheat suppliers, but Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbour has sent food prices soaring […] Read more
Deal to resume Ukraine Black Sea grain exports to be signed Friday
As Ukraine grain deal emerges, U.S. aims to ease concerns over Russia sanctions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters –– The United States on Thursday sought to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports by reassuring banks, shipping and insurance companies that such transactions would not breach Washington’s sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Enabling those Russian exports is a key part of attempts by the United Nations and Turkish […] Read more
Rajapaksa dynasty draws to humiliating close in Sri Lanka
Food shortages, fertilizer ban among flashpoints
Reading Time: 2 minutes Colombo | Reuters — The Rajapaksa dynasty dominated Sri Lankan politics until April when street protests against fuel and food shortages began to slip out of control. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country early on Wednesday, leaving no one from the once-illustrious family in a position of power. The president vowed last month to stay […] Read more
Thunder Bay grain exports picking up
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Grain movement through the Port of Thunder Bay picked up in June, although total grain exports through the facility on the north shore of Lake Superior remain well off the year-ago level. A total of 625,741 tonnes of grain were shipped during the month, marking the first time of the season that grain […] Read more
WTO strikes global trade deals deep into overtime
Deals reached on food security, health and fishing; formerly defiant India joins consensus
Reading Time: 3 minutes Geneva | Reuters — The World Trade Organization’s 164 members approved a series of trade agreements early on Friday that included commitments on fish and pledges on health and food security after more than five gruelling days of negotiations. The deals were ground out over five days of bargaining at a conference of more than […] Read more
Turkey says Ukraine grain ships could avoid mines
Russia offers safe passage
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — Russia on Wednesday said it has offered “safe passage” for Ukraine grain shipments from Black Sea ports but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines. Ukrainian grain shipments have stalled since Russia’s invasion and ports blockade, stoking global prices […] Read more
BHP open to potash partner but still will enter fertilizer business alone
Feds put $100M toward reducing emissions at BHP site
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — BHP Group is open to taking on a partner as it builds its first potash mine in Saskatchewan, but can also go it alone and is not currently involved in discussions with rival Nutrien, a senior BHP executive said Monday. “We are more than happy and willing to work with partners. […] Read more
Nutrien to further boost potash output amid global shortage
Company will also speed up nitrogen capacity boosts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Nutrien, the world’s largest fertilizer producer, said Thursday it will increase its Canadian potash production by 20 per cent to an annual 18 million tonnes by 2025, helping to address tight supplies that have contributed to a global food shortage. Potash prices have soared since the West imposed sanctions against Russia for Moscow’s […] Read more
Thunder Bay grain shipments down on year through two months
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Grain shipments through the Port of Thunder Bay are running well behind normal through the first two months of the 2022 shipping season, according to a release from the port. However, potash movement through the port is up considerably, with inbound shipments of general cargo also strong. Grain shipments through the end of […] Read more
U.N. aid chief in Moscow to discuss Ukraine grain exports
Russia says will guarantee grain vessels' safety
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths is in Moscow on Thursday and Friday to discuss clearing the way for exports of grain and other food from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, a U.N. spokesperson said. Griffiths will meet Russian officials days after another senior U.N. official, Rebecca Grynspan, had “constructive” talks in Moscow with Russian […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
