Turkish soya bean imports are expected to fall by 150,000t this year to 1.3m tonnes as a result of reduced demand for Turkish poultry exports in 2016. The recent political turmoil in Turkey has caused security problems along its borders with major markets such as Iraq and Syria, which has reduced export demand.

The USDA’s bureau in Beijing is forecasting Chinese whole milk powder (WMP) imports to increase 15% in 2017 to hit a record high of 460,000t as domestic powder stocks are eroded at a time when demand is increasing. Chinese imports of WMP are on course to reach 400,000t this year.

In 2017, US drivers will be required to use a minimum of almost 19.3bn gallons of biofuels in their vehicles, a 6% increase on the previous minimum. The increased limit is a major boost to the US corn ethanol industry, which has been struggling since crude oil prices sank to current lows below $50/barrel.

Strategie Grains, the French consultancy group, has pegged EU 28 wheat production for next year at close to 153m tonnes, an 8m tonne improvement on the 2016 harvest. Heavy rains, particularly in France, washed across the continent in key growing months this year to leave the EU harvest at its lowest in years.