Chicago | Reuters — Global grain marketers have seized upon trade tensions between the United States and several of its top export markets, including China, to turn around struggling trading units following one of the toughest years ever for the industry. After five years of bumper harvests worldwide that depressed crop prices, trading margins are […] Read more
Trade rows spell gain, and pain, for U.S. grain exporters
POET unseats ADM as top global fuel ethanol maker
Chicago | Reuters — Privately held, U.S.-based POET has overtaken industry pioneer and global grain merchant Archer Daniels Midland to become the top ethanol producer in the world, the companies told Reuters. ADM had been the biggest ethanol maker since the U.S. began requiring refiners to mix billions of gallons of biofuels into the nation’s […] Read more
Continental Grain to push Bunge to consider potential sale
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. agricultural investor Continental Grain plans to push Bunge to consider a potential sale, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday, after Archer Daniels Midland approached Bunge about a takeover. It was unclear how Continental Grain would pressure Bunge, one of the world’s top agricultural merchants. But the company, […] Read more
ADM, Syngenta settle suit over biotech corn exports
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain merchant Archer Daniels Midland has settled a lawsuit with Syngenta over the seed company’s launch of a biotech corn strain that roiled grain exports to China, according to regulatory documents filed on Friday. ADM sued Syngenta four years ago for selling the corn variety known as Agrisure Viptera or […] Read more
Bunge board backs management after earnings miss, CEO says
Chicago | Reuters — Agricultural merchant Bunge reported a worse-than-expected loss for the fourth quarter on Wednesday, the latest in a string of poor results that has left the company’s management fending off takeover bids from rivals. Several years of abundant grains supply on global markets have made it tough for Bunge and its rivals […] Read more
ADM in talks to buy Bunge as early as this week
Reuters — Top U.S. grains merchant Archer Daniels Midland could reach an agreement to buy smaller rival Bunge as early as this week, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The potential deal comes as large grain traders that make money by buying, selling, storing and shipping commodity crops have struggled […] Read more
ADM approach to Bunge a potential U-turn on oilseed strategy
Chicago | Reuters –– Archer Daniels Midland’s proposed takeover of Bunge could signal a change in the company’s strategy on oilseeds, giving the top U.S. grain merchant a much bigger capacity to crush soy just months after ADM’s CEO said the firm would cut spending on the sector. The potential strategic change comes as the […] Read more
ADM reported making takeover approach to Bunge
Reuters — Top U.S. grains merchant Archer Daniels Midland has proposed a takeover of Bunge Ltd., the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, a move that could set up a battle for Bunge with London-based rival Glencore. Large grain traders which make money by buying, selling, storing, shipping and trading crops have struggled in recent […] Read more
Rush on to reverse U.S. tax boon for ag co-ops
Chicago | Reuters — Republican U.S. senators are working with some of the world’s biggest agricultural merchants to undo a last-minute provision in the tax overhaul that threatens to distort the grains market and starve private firms of corn, soy and wheat supplies. It was included during final revisions of the tax bill that passed […] Read more
Major U.S. grain firms fear harm from new tax law
Chicago | Reuters — The new U.S. tax law is poised to drive more control over the nation’s grain supply to farmer-owned co-operatives, provoking concern among ethanol producers and privately run grain handlers that they could be squeezed out of the competition to buy crops. Until now, the co-operatives, private companies and publicly traded firms […] Read more
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