Reading Time: < 1 minute Grain and oilseed markets had their ups and downs in 2024, with wars, labour unrest, trade disputes and politics often providing more direction than the traditional supply/demand fundamentals.
Top agriculture market-moving news stories of 2024
More grain ships diverted from Red Sea due to Houthi attacks
Air strikes, naval forces not enough to end attacks on ships, trader says
Reading Time: 2 minutes More ships carrying grain were diverted from the Suez Canal to sailings around the Cape of Good Hope this week as concern about attacks on vessels in the Red Sea continued, shipping analysts said on Friday.
CBOT weekly outlook: Downturn continues for grains
Early harvest reports from South America could affect prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes March grain futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) were in decline during the week ended Jan. 31 despite receiving a boost on Jan. 30.
Putin ally warns agriculture supplies could be limited to ‘friends’
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s allies warned on Friday that Russia, a major global wheat exporter, could limit supplies of agriculture products to “friendly” countries only, amid Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy secretary of […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil prices decline, may shift in spring
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Prices for Canadian lentils, along with other pulses in the country, have slightly declined since the start of 2022. However, one pulse buyer thinks the next few months can recharge the market. Lionel Ector, president of Diefenbaker Spice and Pulse at Elbow, Sask., explained that a good Australian lentil harvest in December has […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus to gain first outside investor
Abu Dhabi's ADQ fund to acquire indirect 45 per cent stake
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) has agreed to sell a 45 per cent stake to Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, the companies said on Wednesday, the first outside investment in the family-owned commodity merchant’s 169-year-old history. The deal comes after a search by chairwoman Margarita Louis-Dreyfus for an investor to relieve debt built up […] Read more
U.S. grains: Futures weaken as Iraq strike rattles markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures crumbled on Friday as traders booked profits after being spooked by a U.S. air strike in Iraq that escalated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The strike that killed Iran’s most prominent military commander put markets on edge and opened the door for a setback a […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: India market likely pushing up prices
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Faced with weather concerns surrounding its pigeon pea crop, India has been very likely buying lentils from Canada, said MarketsFarm analyst Mike Jubinville. Over the last month, prices for large green lentils have jumped 25 per cent because of issues with pigeon peas, said Jubinville. Green lentils can be substituted for the pigeon […] Read more
India, Middle East countries in talks on oil-for-food scheme
Reading Time: 2 minutes New Delhi | Reuters — India is in talks with some Gulf nations to buy oil to fill its strategic reserves and sell food in return, seeking to use its position as the world’s third-largest oil importer to both secure energy supplies and boost exports. Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters the idea was […] Read more
Fighters target vital water facilities across Middle East
Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters –– Fighters are increasingly targetting water and sanitation facilities across the Middle East, exacerbating severe shortages for agriculture and households, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday. Consumption of water in the volatile region with rising populations was already at unsustainable levels in many areas hit by record-low […] Read more
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