Iran achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production within next four years.

Iran can achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production within the next four years provided domestic factories are equipped with up-to-date machinery. A record high of 1.65 million tons of sugar were produced in Iran in the last fiscal year (March 2016-17), which amount is unprecedented in the last 120 years. Iranians consume between 2.2 and 2.4 million tons of sugar a year and last year the import of more than 550,000 tons of the product was needed.

Fall in supply lifts soybean prices in Indore.

Soybean prices in the benchmark market of Indore were up as arrivals slipped due to heavy rains. A pick-up in demand from oil millers and stockists, and slow progress of kharif sowing in the state also supported prices.

Malaysia CPO down on profit booking, CBOT soy cues.

Futures contracts of crude palm oil fell on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives as investors booked profits after prices hit a four-month high of 2,692 ringgits per tonne previous close. The most-active October palm oil contract was down 0.75% at 2,657 ringgits (39,859.66 rupees) per tonne. Decline in soyoil contracts on CBOT also weighed on palm oil prices. Prices of crude palm oil and soyoil move in tandem as both are used in the production of bio-fuels.

NAFED procures 56,583 tonne of 2016-17 rabi chana crop for buffer.

The pace of procurement is slow now, but could pick up if the rains take a break. The agency had started procuring the pulse last month when prices fell below the minimum support level of 4,000 rupees per 100 kg, including a bonus of 200 rupees. Procurement is being carried out in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Around 42,580 tonne of the pulse has been procured in Rajasthan, 12,730 tonne in Madhya Pradesh, 967 tonne in Uttar Pradesh, and the rest in Haryana.

india Tur set to hit 6-year low as Africa crop may worsen glut.

A sharp rise in supply from overseas–largely Myanmar and some African countries like Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania–is seen pulling down the already-low prices in a couple of months, to levels last seen in 2011. Africa tur production is expected to jump to 450,000-500,000 tonne in 2017-18, from the 350,000 tonne crop of last year. 70-80% of the African output making its way to India in the absence of other destinations. A record domestic crop, pegged around 4.5 million tonne or almost double of last year crop compounds the supply glut. Tur prices falling further, maybe towards 3,000 rupees per 100 kg in the next two months.

India Centre wants states to procure pulses.

The Centre is considering pulling out of the procurement of pulses at minimum support price (MSP), and instead ask states to procure the key farm produce. As per the proposal, the Centre would bear about 30% of the amount spent for procurement on account of loss that agencies of state governments would incur during storage and release of pulses. Centre failed to procure enough pulses at MSP post the bumper harvest, which has resulted in distress sale by farmers. Secondly, the Centre is also struggling to dispose off the old stock of about 1.8 million tonnes of pulses since states are not picking them up from the central pool. the central outgo for compensating the states for their loss is estimated about Rs 1,800-Rs 2,000 crore. The proposal, which was presented to a committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet secretary, was recently discussed with state food secretaries.

Govt approves export of 8,424 tonne raw sugar to US under tariff quota.

The government has allowed export of 8,424 tonne raw sugar to the US, under the preferential trade quota for 2017-18 (Oct-Sep). The US allows a fixed quantum of duty-free raw sugar import from India every year, under the preferential tariff rate quota. Sugar imports into the US outside the quota attract high import levies. Exports of sugar subject to 20% export duty. The government had allowed export of raw sugar to the US under the tariff rate quota this year as well but there have been no exports so far under the mechanism as shipments are unviable after the 20% export duty.