Ukraine early cereals and pulses harvest is over.

In Ukraine, early cereals and pulses were harvested from 9639 Th hectares (100%). Farmers gathered 37224 KMT with an average yield of 3.86 MT/hectares against 37948 KMT with an average yield of 3.94 MT/hectares as of August 22, 2016. Farmers got 1095 KMT of peas from 410 Th hectares with an average yield of 2.67 MT/ha. As of August 22, 2016, these figures equaled 763 KMT, 237 Th hectares and 3.22 MT/ha, respectively.

Australia to help India become a pulses-processing hub.

Australia is learnt to be exploring ways to help India transform into a pulses-processing hub. Towards this objective, the Australian government and that country agri-business companies hold talks with the Government of India and Indian companies including those into processing, retail and imports of pulses, on the sidelines of the Australia Business Week in India (ABWI). The ABWI is slated to be held from August 28 to September 1 with an aim to promote Australian capability and expand Australia trade, investment and education relationships.

Delhi Gram, masoor move up on scattered demand.

Gram and masoor prices firmed up by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale market on mild demand from retailers. However, other pulses moved in a narrow range in limited deals and pegged at last levels. Uptick in demand from retailers mainly led to rise in gram and masoor prices.

India Pulses end steady in tight movements.

There was not much activity at the wholesale market as prices by and large moved in a narrow range on alternate bouts of trading and pegged at last levels. Adequate stocks position against sporadic demand mainly kept pulses prices steady.

Ukraine exported 124.3 KMT of rapeseed.

Ukraine exported 124.3 KMT of rapeseed in the first month of the new 2017/18 season, or twice as much as in July 2016 (61.3 KMT). Such an active start of export sales is observed for the first time in the last three seasons. European countries continued to be the key buyers of Ukrainian rapeseed in July 2016/17 (66% of total exports). Among them, the greatest volumes were shipped to Germany and Portugal. This year rapeseed crops up at 2.1-2.2 MMT that enable Ukraine to raise its export potential by almost 60% against last year.

Malaysia, Indonesia Plans to Export Palm Oil to China.

Malaysia and Indonesia discuss plans to export crude palm oil (CPO) for biodiesel to China. The two countries discussing the plan to export CPO to China. The latter is seeking to adopt 5% biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel (B5) program. China is eyeing biodiesel as it increases environmental control. The implementation of the B5 program would create a large CPO market. Therefore, Indonesia and Malaysia ought to cooperate to meet China demand. Malaysia wishes to expand biodiesel market to other countries, such as India and the Philippines.

U.S. sells soybeans and meal.

The U.S. private exporters sold 132,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China for delivery in the 2017/18 marketing year that begins Sept. 1, 2017. Private exporters sold 105,500 tonnes of U.S. soymeal to Thailand for delivery in the 2017/18 marketing year that begins Oct. 1, 2017.

India Soybean output may fall 17%.

Despite the government efforts to reduce India dependence on imported edible oil by increasing local oilseed production, soybean output is likely to decline by 17 per cent this kharif harvesting season. The decline is attributed to lower sowing area and reports of crop damage following a long dry spell in the peak planting season. Sowing of soybean crop is almost complete by mid-August, with little chance of further addition of kharif acreage. Apart from that, there was a long dry spell this monsoon season. Experts believe the standing crop got damaged due to deficiency of moisture in the peak germination period.

US ethanol market criticizes Brazil decision to levy 20% import tariff.

US ethanol market participants and trade groups decried the Brazilian government decision to levy a 20% tariff on ethanol imports above 600 million liters. Brazil, the second largest ethanol producer in the world, began importing large volumes of ethanol in 2016 as high sugar prices made the sweetener more attractive to sugarcane mills than ethanol. Through June, the US exported over 1.045 billion liters of ethanol to Brazil. That could mean that any further exports to Brazil would be subject to the 20% tariff. But it does not appear that exports from earlier this year above the 600-million-liter level would be affected by the tariff.

Sugar prices gain, as Brazil tax move spurs talk of political favor.

Sugar prices extended their revival, returning above 14 cents a pound at one point, after Brazil unveiled a 20% tax on Brazil ethanol imports, in the latest of a series of moves by the top producing country of the sweetener deemed potentially positive for values. Raw sugar futures for October stood 2.1% higher at 13.95 cents pound in midday deals in New York, taking close to 8% the contract revival from a mid-month low. Earlier the contract touched 14.06 cents a pound.