Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada is seeking to finalize a free trade deal with Southeast Asian nations as part of a push to expand into new markets, its top diplomat said, responding to the hefty tariffs imposed on it by the United States, its neighbour and largest trade partner.

Canada seeks pact with Southeast Asian countries to diversify trade

Higher biodiesel mandates in Indonesia to curb palm oil supplies, analyst says
Decrease in available palm oil would be ‘catastrophic’ for global consumers, analyst says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Implementation of higher biodiesel mandates in Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, is likely to tighten supplies of the vegetable oil, a leading industry analyst said on Tuesday. Indonesia currently has a mandatory 35 per cent blend of palm oil-based fuel in biodiesel and is seeking to ramp up to biodiesel containing 40 per cent palm oil to cut its energy imports.

Malaysia to produce less palm oil – USDA attaché
Reading Time: 2 minutes Palm oil production in Malaysia is projected to ease back in 2024/25 as compared to the previous year, said the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) attaché in Kuala Lumpur.

USDA attaché reports from Canada, other countries
Drought, grasshoppers among concerns cited for Canadian Prairies
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Global Agricultural Information Network of the United States Department of Agriculture issued a series of reports during the week ended Jan. 26. Of those, some of them could have an affect on the North American markets.

ICE weekly outlook: Palm oil shortage leads to canola rally
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — As Malaysian palm oil continues to increase in price due a shortage, it has led to a rally in canola on ICE Futures, said Wayne Palmer of Exceed Grain in Winnipeg. The shortage stems from dry conditions in Indonesia and Malaysia, the world’s top two palm oil producers. While the dryness has been […] Read more

TPP study sees net ‘neutral’ effect on dairy sector
Reading Time: 4 minutes An economic impact study on Canada’s participation in a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal finds losses in Canada’s dairy sector would be “offset” by gains for dairy processors from cheaper dairy imports. The study, prepared for the federal government by its Office of the Chief Economist and released Friday, notes Canada has offered expanded access […] Read more

Australia’s approach to grain co-ops
Owned by 4,200 farmers, the giant CBH Group adds a whole new dimension to phrases like value-adding and diversification
Reading Time: 6 minutes Given the demise of the prairie pools and the recent sales of a number of Canada’s new-generation co-operative grain terminals, it would be understandable if many Canadian farmers, grain traders, farm advisers and policy makers believe co-operative grain marketing ventures are simply not viable in today’s world. Just don’t try and tell that to Western […] Read more