9.11 lakh MT of wheat expected in Bathinda district markets.

Around 9,11,150 MT of wheat is expected to arrive in grain markets of the district. Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra gave this information after conducting a visit to the grain markets at Talwandi Sabo, Bhagi Vander and Kotshamir to view arrangements for the wheat procurement process. Six procurement agencies would procure wheat in 182 grain markets of the district. Complete arrangements were in place at mandis and facilities for farmers, labourers and commission agents were also being ensured. The arrival of wheat would gain momentum in the days to come and agencies including Punsup, Pungrain, Punjab Warehouse, FCI and Markfed would procure wheat in the district.

High supplies drag wheat prices in spot markets.

Prices of wheat fell in major wholesale markets of the country due to high availability of the grain in spot markets and on anticipation of higher arrivals in the coming days. Arrivals in Punjab begin nearly 7-10 days ago and about 1,000 tonne of the grain arrive daily in Amritsar. Arrivals may rise to 2,000-2,500 tonne in the coming days.

USDA raises 2017 wheat carryover 3% from March.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its April 11 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report raised its forecast for 2017 U.S. Wheat carryover by 3% from its March forecast to near a 30-year high. The USDA also raised its soybean carryover forecast by 2% from March but left corn carryover unchanged. USDA forecast the carryover of wheat on June1, 2017, at 1.159 billion bushels, up 30 million bushels from 1.129 billion bushels forecast last month and up 183 million bushels, or 19%, from 976 million bushels in 2016. USDA forecast was above the average but within the range of pre-report trade expectations.

Turkish wheat stocks plummet, amid economic uncertainty.

Turkish wheat stocks are growing extremely tight due to economic uncertainty and a ban on Russian imports. US officials warned, with supplies implied to fall to less than two weeks of demand by the end of next season. The bureau cut its ideas of 2016-17 imports by 800,000 tonnes, to 4.0m tonnes and imports are seen rising to 4.5 million tonnes in 2017-18 due to ongoing demand for high quality wheat from flour and pasta exporters. By the end of 2017-18, stocks are seen falling to just 648,000 tonnes and assuming the uncertain economic environment continues to discourage stocking. The bureau forecast implies a stock to use ratio at an eye-wateringly tight 3.7%, enough for less than two weeks of consumption.

Customs restricts exit of rice from free trade zones Abuja (Nigeria).

According to Nigeria Customs Service, it has restricted the exit of rice from Free Trade Zone in the country to ensure total compliance to the ban on the importation of rice. Due to the high level of security along the border lines, some Nigerians were taking advantage of the status of the Free Trade Zone to smuggle rice into the country.

Barley down in Jaipur as new crop arrival gains pace.

Prices of barley fell in Jaipur due to higher arrivals and a lacklustre demand from stockists and feed sector. New crop arrivals of barley were estimated at 90,000 bags (1 bag = 85 kg) compared with 75,000 bags previous close. The most-active May contract of mustard seed on the NCDEX was down 0.8%.