Sale of forgotten wheat could put a dent in India's national debt

The Food Corporation of India could potentially earn over Rs25,000 crore (US$4.5bn) by exporting wheat lying in open warehouses, according to an Assocham study.

UK may have to stick to wheat imports, says commodities analyst

The UK was hit by an extreme wheat crisis last year forcing industry into import mode and forecasts suggest this trend may stay, says a commodity analyst.

Grain production to reach record levels in 2013, says FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said that grain harvests are set to reach record levels in 2013, and wheat production is forecast to recover from last year’s reduced...

COMMODITY REPORTS: USDA

Lower domestic wheat use spells higher global supply: USDA

A drop in domestic wheat use has left higher global supplies – up 2.9 million for 2012/13, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Grain policy

USDA slams India’s decision to export more year-old wheat

The United States Department of Agriculture has hit out at the Indian government for allowing the export of an additional 5m tonnes of wheat last month, calling it unviable unless...

Federation of Bakers tentative on increased British wheat imports

The UK could soon become a net importer of wheat for the first time in a decade, but The Federation of Bakers has said that there may be enough of...

News in brief

GMO and non-GMO crops must better coexist: CSPI calls on USDA action

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) must do more to foster coexistence of genetically modified and non-genetically modified crops, the Center for Science in the Public Interest says.

EU sugar quotas should go by 2017, says Council of the EU

The Council of the European Union last night issued a mandate to scrap EU sugar quotas by 2017 and a final decision is now set for June.

EU wheat production to rise but Copa-Cogeca concerned by weather

Farmers organization Copa-Cogeca has forecast EU soft wheat production to increase 3.7% on last years levels by the 2013/14 marketing year, but worries that weather may impact yields.

Big Vote - CAP Reform

EU sugar quotas extended to 2020

EU sugar quotas will remain in place in Europe until 2020 after a vote on Common Agricultural Policy reforms (CAP) in European Parliament today.

Norwegian fund pulls out of 'unsustainable' palm oil companies

Norway’s US$710bn sovereign investment fund has pulled its investment from 23 Southeast Asian palm oil companies, claiming that they source palm oil unsustainably.

COMMODITY REPORTS: FAO

Europe drives 4.3% global wheat surge as US drops: FAO

Global wheat production will surge 4.3% for 2013 driven by a strong European and Russian harvest, the FAO says. The US yield is expected to drop 6%.

Nearly half extra EU sugar allowance already approved for 2013

The European Commission’s sugar management committee has approved nearly half of the extra sugar allowed to be released on the EU market this year – a total of 584,000 tonnes...

Cropping a blow

Wheat the high point of a heat-affected Australian harvest

Heatwave conditions from early January and below average rainfall across Australia’s major agricultural regions have resulted in a less than favourable summer cropping season, according to the Australian Bureau of...

Commodity chats: With Rabobank

Wheat worries: Feed use could squeeze bakers

Use of wheat for feed should be lower than last year but will remain high and this could put more pressure on already tight supplies for the bakery and snacks...

News in brief

Global grains brief: Outlook tight, particularly in the US

The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and the International Grains Council (IGC) reports both outline a tight supply outlook for the coming season, particularly in the US.

Tate & Lyle Sugars takes battle against EU to court

Sugar refiner Tate & Lyle Sugars will take its fight against the European Commission for alleged mismanagement of the European sugar market to court today. 

Prolonged high wheat prices: 'Uncharted territory for industry'

Global wheat prices have settled slightly but remain historically strong and the prolonged period of such conditions is uncharted territory for industry, according to an analyst.

FAO urges greater use of ‘neglected’ grains

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has urged greater use of neglected traditional grains, saying that there is global overreliance on just a handful of staple foods.

News in brief

Goodman Fielder offloads NZ flour milling business to Japanese firm

Australian food giant Goodman Fielder will offload its New Zealand flour milling business to Japanese firm Nisshin as part of its wider strategy to recover from struggling finances.

Guar gum buyers aren’t buying, sellers aren’t selling: Industry expert

Guar gum prices have dropped a long way from peaks of $20 to $25 a kilo – but there is now a standoff between buyers and sellers, according to hydrocolloids...

Eased wheat and corn prices set to stir again in Q1 2013, says Rabobank

Wheat and corn prices have eased over the fourth quarter but will spike again at the beginning of 2013 as impacts from demand rationing take hold, Rabobank says.

Wheat price spikes will protect manufacturers in the long-run: Analyst

Sky-high wheat prices will deter use of the grain for feed and thus secure supplies for bakery and snack manufacturers in the long-run, according to an analyst.

Indian advocacy group opposes guar futures relisting until market better regulated

Guar should not be relisted on India’s futures market until regulation of trading is improved, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) says.

Guar gum could be relisted on Indian futures market

Guar gum could be relisted on India’s futures market if a positive committee decision is reached next week, according to the country’s commodity markets regulator.