FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 30 Mar.)
Ocean Freight Comments - 30 March 2023 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk ocean freight markets were fairly quiet and dull this week and moved mostly sideways. Vessel owners continue to look for improved cargo demand, and finding none, must settle for holding rates steady and not losin...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 30 Mar.)
Ocean Freight Comments - 30 March 2023 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk ocean freight markets were fairly quiet and dull this week and moved mostly sideways. Vessel owners continue to look for improved cargo demand, and finding none, must settle for holding rates steady and not losin...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is expected to have to devalue its currency again according to Societe Generale bank. It says that by the end of the next quarter about 10 percent will have to be devalued in order to meet foreign exchange p...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia received a 60,000 MT barley shipment from Australia financed by a joint arrangement between Salic Group and Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund. This is being done un...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egyptian government officials said the “dollar crisis” has now been corrected and that foreign payments are being made by banks and delayed goods are clearing customs. Extra efforts have been made to r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Jordan recently received very good rainfalls which the Ag Ministry says brought long awaited relief to farmers. Pastures should also be much better this year, which will be very beneficial to the dairy industry. T...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka will benefit from a program by Thailand and the United Nations to supply quality maize seed to help with increasing food security – the maize will be used in the livestock industry when harvested...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s COP27 conference has set a new “123 Pledge” program that is directed at reducing food waste in production, handling, retail and consumer levels. Fourteen percent of food is said to be los...
Transportation Workaround
A third of U.S. grain and oilseed exports move through New Orleans and nearly 40 percent if one includes the Texas Gulf ports. Another 15 percent moves out the PNW to Asia. But what happens when the Mississippi dries up? In older literature, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service does not...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran and Pakistan are expected to benefit from Azerbaijan lifting its export ban on grains. Talks with both countries are planned for next week to discuss shipping logistics and additional export opportunities. Pa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran’s government increased the purchase price of local wheat, to the equivalent of $430 MT. The government says that more than 7 MMT of local wheat has been purchased from farmers. The Iran Ag Ministry says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade says there is no reason for wheat flour prices to increase as the local supply is good and more milling wheat is expected from Dubai and Turkey. Sri Lanka is forecast, by USDA-F...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh semi-official reports say that a wheat import agreement for 500,000 MT is about to be signed with Russia, some reports say the agreement is for 350,000 MT. The government-to-government business is to be...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon officially rejected the first shipment of 26,000 MT of corn from the Ukraine on the M/V Razoni and further reports advise that the vessel will now discharge in Syria after a stop in Turkey. Ukraine will no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION MEA region barley buyers are looking more to French barley as supplies from the Black Sea are not available. Saudi Arabia and Iran are major barley buyers in France as are Tunisia and several African nations. Most...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon is scheduled to receive the first shipment of wheat from Ukraine’s Odessa port – the M/V Razani is reported to have sailed from Odessa with about 26,000 MT of wheat. The vessel will stop in Ist...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Middle Eastern and African buyers of Black Sea grains are looking with anticipation to the freeing up of grain/oilseed shipments from the Ukraine and Russia, as was agreed and signed last week. However, experts sa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s government will be selling 120,000 MT of wheat to the World Food Program (WFP) for the WFP’s Afghanistan relief program. The wheat supplied is expected to be imported wheat milled in Pakista...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Yemen is expected to be dependent on India for its wheat supply for 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. India is reported to have shipped 250,000 MT of wheat to Yemen since the invasion. Turkey is going...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is hoping to increase the 2023 planted area by 1 million acres. In order to do this, it will have to reclaim desert lands and use existing underground water supplies. Egypt also plans to improve the seed sto...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia’s Almarai Dairy Products will be investing $107 million in its poultry operations for expansion of grandparent stock and in seafood processing. In 2021 the company said that it would be doubling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran reports that its cereals imports for 2022/23 will drop by 25 percent due to a nearly 5 MMT increase in local cereals production. Wheat production is expected to increase by 4 MMT to 130 MMT with wheat imports...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has begun to harvest trial plantings of GMO wheat that is expected to increase crop yields by 33 percent. The wheat is said to be drought resistant and able to be grown in areas with high saline levels in th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The end of Ramadan means that the Middle East and North Africa will be on holiday from 30 April until about 5 May with some variation in dates depending on the country. Egypt will be closed for Eid El Fitr, follow...
FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 30 Mar.)
Ocean Freight Comments - 30 March 2023 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk ocean freight markets were fairly quiet and dull this week and moved mostly sideways. Vessel owners continue to look for improved cargo demand, and finding none, must settle for holding rates steady and not losin...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 30 Mar.)
Ocean Freight Comments - 30 March 2023 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk ocean freight markets were fairly quiet and dull this week and moved mostly sideways. Vessel owners continue to look for improved cargo demand, and finding none, must settle for holding rates steady and not losin...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is expected to have to devalue its currency again according to Societe Generale bank. It says that by the end of the next quarter about 10 percent will have to be devalued in order to meet foreign exchange p...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia received a 60,000 MT barley shipment from Australia financed by a joint arrangement between Salic Group and Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund. This is being done un...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egyptian government officials said the “dollar crisis” has now been corrected and that foreign payments are being made by banks and delayed goods are clearing customs. Extra efforts have been made to r...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Jordan recently received very good rainfalls which the Ag Ministry says brought long awaited relief to farmers. Pastures should also be much better this year, which will be very beneficial to the dairy industry. T...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka will benefit from a program by Thailand and the United Nations to supply quality maize seed to help with increasing food security – the maize will be used in the livestock industry when harvested...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s COP27 conference has set a new “123 Pledge” program that is directed at reducing food waste in production, handling, retail and consumer levels. Fourteen percent of food is said to be los...
Transportation Workaround
A third of U.S. grain and oilseed exports move through New Orleans and nearly 40 percent if one includes the Texas Gulf ports. Another 15 percent moves out the PNW to Asia. But what happens when the Mississippi dries up? In older literature, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service does not...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran and Pakistan are expected to benefit from Azerbaijan lifting its export ban on grains. Talks with both countries are planned for next week to discuss shipping logistics and additional export opportunities. Pa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran’s government increased the purchase price of local wheat, to the equivalent of $430 MT. The government says that more than 7 MMT of local wheat has been purchased from farmers. The Iran Ag Ministry says...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade says there is no reason for wheat flour prices to increase as the local supply is good and more milling wheat is expected from Dubai and Turkey. Sri Lanka is forecast, by USDA-F...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh semi-official reports say that a wheat import agreement for 500,000 MT is about to be signed with Russia, some reports say the agreement is for 350,000 MT. The government-to-government business is to be...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon officially rejected the first shipment of 26,000 MT of corn from the Ukraine on the M/V Razoni and further reports advise that the vessel will now discharge in Syria after a stop in Turkey. Ukraine will no...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION MEA region barley buyers are looking more to French barley as supplies from the Black Sea are not available. Saudi Arabia and Iran are major barley buyers in France as are Tunisia and several African nations. Most...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Lebanon is scheduled to receive the first shipment of wheat from Ukraine’s Odessa port – the M/V Razani is reported to have sailed from Odessa with about 26,000 MT of wheat. The vessel will stop in Ist...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Middle Eastern and African buyers of Black Sea grains are looking with anticipation to the freeing up of grain/oilseed shipments from the Ukraine and Russia, as was agreed and signed last week. However, experts sa...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s government will be selling 120,000 MT of wheat to the World Food Program (WFP) for the WFP’s Afghanistan relief program. The wheat supplied is expected to be imported wheat milled in Pakista...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Yemen is expected to be dependent on India for its wheat supply for 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. India is reported to have shipped 250,000 MT of wheat to Yemen since the invasion. Turkey is going...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt is hoping to increase the 2023 planted area by 1 million acres. In order to do this, it will have to reclaim desert lands and use existing underground water supplies. Egypt also plans to improve the seed sto...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Saudi Arabia’s Almarai Dairy Products will be investing $107 million in its poultry operations for expansion of grandparent stock and in seafood processing. In 2021 the company said that it would be doubling...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Iran reports that its cereals imports for 2022/23 will drop by 25 percent due to a nearly 5 MMT increase in local cereals production. Wheat production is expected to increase by 4 MMT to 130 MMT with wheat imports...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has begun to harvest trial plantings of GMO wheat that is expected to increase crop yields by 33 percent. The wheat is said to be drought resistant and able to be grown in areas with high saline levels in th...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION The end of Ramadan means that the Middle East and North Africa will be on holiday from 30 April until about 5 May with some variation in dates depending on the country. Egypt will be closed for Eid El Fitr, follow...