Liberia-flagged bulker K Sukret, carrying grain under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits for inspection in the southern anchorage of Istanbul on May 17, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Mehmet Emin Caliskan)

Black Sea grain shipments shrink amid Ukraine deal doubts, Cargill exec says

'Grey/black' fleet seen handling more Russian traffic

London | Reuters — South American grain exports are set to overshadow Black Sea shipments this year as doubts grow over a U.N.-backed Ukraine deal and international traders cut commercial activities in Russia, a top executive with major commodities group Cargill said. The Black Sea grain deal, which allows the safe passage of grains through […] Read more

Signage on Viterra’s office building in Regina. (Dave Bedard photo)

Viterra in talks to merge with Bunge, source says

Merger would vault Viterra into top tier of grain trade

Reuters — Global grain trader Viterra is in talks to merge with U.S. rival Bunge Ltd., according to a person familiar with the matter, in a potential mega-deal that would reshape the top tier of global grains merchants. There is no certainty that Viterra, part-owned by Switzerland-based mining and trading giant Glencore, will be able […] Read more


Trucks wait for crossing into Poland at the Rava-Ruska border checkpoint in Ukraine’s Lviv region on April 17, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Roman Baluk)

EU sets Ukraine grain import restrictions in five countries until June 5

Supports pledged for farmers in those countries

Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission said on Tuesday it set restrictions until June 5 on imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed to ease the excess supply of these grains in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The EU executive arm said that during that period, Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and […] Read more



Canola industry ready to move forward

Canola industry ready to move forward

The Canola Council of Canada celebrated a return to normalcy at its annual meeting at the Canadian Crops Convention in Ottawa. “Our theme this year is ‘from adversity to opportunity’ and I think that’s very fitting,” said Jim Everson, the group’s president. Production has rebounded following the drought of 2021, meaning there’s opportunity to develop […] Read more

Given the tighter fundamentals for the 2022-23 crop year, the barley market must encourage acreage this spring.

Barley market overview

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The barley market must encourage acreage this spring

Cow-calf producers are wondering how changes in the feed grain complex will influence the feeder market. At the same time, feedlot operators are wondering if they should take coverage in the deferred positions. I thought this would be a good time to provide an overview of the barley market. Canadian barley fundamentals are snug and […] Read more


Photo: iStock/Getty Images

Mintec acquires Agribriefing to expand agrifood data offering

Paris | Reuters — British market intelligence firm Mintec announced on Tuesday the acquisition of Agribriefing in a deal it said would create a leading global provider of data on agricultural and food markets. Financial details were not disclosed. Agribriefing’s businesses include protein price-reporting agency Urner Barry and crop consultancy Strategie Grains, the latter acquired […] Read more

The Canadian barley crop is significantly larger than last year.

Feed barley market strengthens

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Statistics Canada’s August model-based crop estimate came in at 9.4 million tonnes, up from the 2021 output of seven million tonnes and up marginally from the five-year average of 9.2 million tonnes. Supplies are sharply higher than last year but the domestic feed market has rallied nearly $60/tonne from the pre-harvest lows. What is going […] Read more



Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey November 2, 2022.  Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas

Ukraine grain export deal back on as Russia resumes participation

Ankara/Kyiv | Reuters – Russia said on Wednesday it would resume its participation in a deal freeing up grain exports from war-torn Ukraine, reversing a move that world leaders had said threatened to exacerbate global hunger. Moscow announced the sudden reversal after Turkey and the United Nations helped keep Ukrainian grain flowing for several days […] Read more