US - maize plantings fall

Maize prices in the US were boosted this week following news that maize plantings for 2020 were 5m acres lower than previously estimated. The acreage report states that US farmers planted 92m acres for 2020, up 2m acres on 2019 but well below the earlier estimate of 97m acres.

Germany - EU presidency begins

Germany has taken over the presidency of the EU from 1 July and has declared that it wants the CAP finalised by October to allow the approval process to begin. The other big issues for the German presidency is securing approval for the EU Covid rescue package.

China - pork exports suspended

Rosderra is one of 22 factories currently suspended from exporting to China because of COVID-19. It is the only Irish factory, with four from Germany, Australia, Brazil and the Netherlands, two in Canada and one each in Argentina, the USA and the UK (Tulip fresh meats).

Argentina - beef exports grow

Argentina’s beef exports continue to grow reaching almost 900,000t carcase weight equivalent for the five months to the end of May, a rapid recovery from the 150,000t in 2015. China is by a huge distance their main export market, taking over three quarters of all Argentina’s beef exports.