Hamburg | Reuters – Drought and a heatwave that scorched fields in northern Europe may cut the European Union’s wheat export surplus and the bloc will need to consume more of its own grains, experts said on Friday. French analysts Strategie Grains forecast a 10 percent smaller EU soft wheat harvest this year, with northern […] Read more
Drought slashes EU wheat, export surplus to be cut
French court suspends pesticides over potential harm to bees
Paris | Reuters — A French court suspended on Friday the licence for two pesticides made by Dow Chemical, citing uncertainty over environmental risks including their effects on bees. The preliminary ruling by an administrative court in the city of Nice overturned a decision by France’s health and environment agency ANSES in September to grant […] Read more
Grain company hunt goes on for Glencore
Geneva | Reuters — Commodities giant Glencore has made unsuccessful moves for three or four smaller targets in the grain sector this year as it seeks acquisitions to grow upstream, the head of its agricultural arm said. “We have looked at three or four possibilities in our core area already this year but couldn’t reach […] Read more
Dreyfus shareholders agree to arbitration over stake sale
Amsterdam/Paris | Reuters — Family shareholders of commodity trader Louis Dreyfus have agreed to arbitration talks to settle a long-running dispute over a share sale, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The tussle concerns an attempt by minority shareholders to sell nearly 17 per cent of the group’s holding firm to Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, […] Read more
Dreyfus sees recovery after two-year profit slide
Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus’ core earnings fell for a second year in 2016 amid a persistent high supply of crops, but the agricultural commodity trader said a revamp of operations should help results this year. Large inventories, low prices and limited volatility have curbed margins in the past two years for companies that […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on Argentina weather
Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a 1-1/2-week low on Wednesday on an improved South American crop weather outlook while corn edged higher on export demand, traders said. Wheat sagged on ample old-crop supplies and a lack of supportive news. Chicago Board of Trade March soybean futures settled down 3-1/4 cents at $10.55-1/4 per […] Read more
U.S. grains: Exports support soybeans after U.S. holiday
Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose on Friday to a new four-month high as stronger-than-expected weekly exports and an easing dollar provided support as trading resumed after a holiday closure. Soybeans remained firm despite a decline in soyoil futures, which gave back some of the huge gains from Wednesday when vegetable oils […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rises on dry weather worries
Paris/Singapore | Reuters –– Chicago wheat futures rose on Monday, snapping a two-session fall, as dry weather in some U.S. and European wheat belts stirred concern in a market that has been weighed down by the prospect of record global supplies this season. Soybeans lost more ground as U.S. farmers are expected to boost the […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus stems profit slide, but headwinds persist
Paris | Reuters — Agricultural trading giant Louis Dreyfus Company eked out a small rise in 2016 first-half net profit, saying steady shipped volumes helped it weather another tough period in commodity markets. Louis Dreyfus has been grappling with ample supply, lower prices and slower economic growth that have cut margins, while also going through […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat extends gains on dry, chilly weather
Reuters — Chicago wheat climbed on Tuesday to add to sharp gains a day earlier as the market assessed the risk of yield losses to U.S. crops due to a combination of dry and cold weather. Corn finished stronger and touched a nearly two-month high, with traders digesting news that China is to scrap its […] Read more
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