China –beef imports hit record level

Chinese beef imports for July stood at just over 152,200t, which is a record level of import demand from the world’s most populous country. July imports are a massive 83% ahead of the same month last year. Imports of pork also surged 107% in July to just over 182,200t.

Argentina – beef exports show double-digit growth

Argentina exported more than 42,000t of beef for the month of July, which is 27% ahead of the same month last year. This brings Argentinian beef exports for the first seven months of 2019 (Jan-Jul) to 268,500t, which is 44% ahead of last year. China accounts for 75% of all the country’s beef exports.

Ukraine – double-digit growth in wheat harvest

Ukraine’s wheat harvest for the 2019 season is forecast at just under 28m tonnes, which will be 12% ahead of last year’s poor harvest. Wheat exports from Ukraine for the coming season are forecast to rise strongly by 5.5m tonnes as a result of the increased production to 21m tonnes.

US – corn and soyabean yields downs

Crop tours in the US Midwest are indicating that yields for corn (maize) and soya bean crops are well behind last year. Average corn yields in Ohio are said to be 3.9t/acre, compared with 4.6t/acre last year. The three-year average yield in Ohio is just over 4t/acre.