Egypt – wheat prices rise at latest tender

At its latest wheat tender, the Egyptian grain importing authority bought a single 60,000t shipment from Ukraine at prices close to $189/t (€175/t). However, the real story was the sharp rise in Russian wheat prices. A strengthening Russian currency saw prices from exporters rise $8 to $10/t to a top of $197/t (€183/t).

USA – corn exports performing strongly

After a record corn crop in 2016, US corn export sales in the year to date are just over 19m tonnes, which is a massive 75% increase year-on-year. Despite low oil prices, ethanol consumption has held steady, with production increasing 12% in the last three months.

Australia – beef prices to stabilise in 2017

Meat and Livestock Australia has said 2017 will be a year of stabilised beef prices on the world market, as herds in key producing countries are rebuilt. Australia, which is one of the world’s largest beef exporters, will see its herd increase to 27m head, while the country’s exports are set to decline for the third straight year to 970,000t.

UK – lamb production declines in 2016

UK lamb slaughterings in 2016 declined 4% year-on-year to 12.7m head, with most of the decline recorded in the first nine months of the year. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), this is the lowest level of lamb production since 2013.