Japan – beef exports to Australia set to resume

Australia could resume importing beef from Japan by the end of 2017 after the country’s government declared Japanese beef safe for human consumption. Beef from Japan has been banned in Australia since 2001 after an outbreak of BSE.

Russia – wheat prices rise on back of strong export sales

Domestic wheat prices in Russia rose to highs of $186/t in January on the back of strong exports. Since the start of the year, Russia has exported about 535,000t of wheat, with strong demand from southeast Asia and Egypt in particular.

Canada – record rapeseed crop forecast this season

Canada’s agriculture ministry is forecasting close to record levels of rapeseed production from the country’s grain farmers this year. With 8.5m hectares planted this year, Canadian rapeseed production is expected to reach a near-record 18.5m tonnes.

South Africa – record wheat crop weighs on prices

For the 2016-17 harvest, South African wheat production is pegged at close to 1.9m tonnes – a 31% increase on last year and the largest crop in five years. The strong increase in production means wheat imports by South Africa are likely to fall by 25% this year to 1.5m tonnes.