Reuters — A merger of U.S. grains merchant Bunge Ltd. with rival Viterra would grow the combined entity’s businesses in the U.S., Brazil and Australia and may raise competition concerns in parts of Canada and Argentina, where key oilseed processing assets overlap, analysts said. Sources last week said Bunge and Viterra were in talks for […] Read more
Bunge, Viterra merger would create global ag trading giant
Companies have some overlap in Canadian crushing
Black Sea grain deal slow to get moving after extension
Ukraine says Russia has effectively frozen out one port
United Nations | Reuters — A deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has not yet resumed full operations, the United Nations said on Friday, having come to a halt before Russia’s decision last week to extend it. The pact called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered […] Read more
Russia preventing Black Sea grain deal port from operating, Ukraine says
Black Sea Grain Initiative was extended last week
Kyiv | Reuters — The Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi has halted operations because Russia is not allowing ships to enter it, in effect cutting it out of a deal allowing safe Black Sea grain exports, a Ukrainian official said on Tuesday. The Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by Russia and Ukraine last July, and extended […] Read more
Three more ships approved under renewed Black Sea grain deal
Wheat futures down on news of renewal
London/United Nations | Reuters — Three new ships were authorized on Thursday to take part in a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, said the United Nations as global wheat prices fell further a day after Russia agreed to extend the pact for 60 more days. Russia had threatened to quit […] Read more
Ukraine lifts barriers to exports of some farm goods
Export licenses were in place to maintain domestic supplies
Kyiv | Reuters — Ukraine has removed barriers to the export of some agricultural commodities, imposed last year to prevent food shortages, in a bid to boost foreign currency income, its government said on Tuesday. The country introduced export licences in 2022 to protect food supplies after agricultural production was hit by Russia’s invasion. While […] Read more
Black Sea grain deal extended for two months
Agreement has helped to tackle global food crisis
Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — The Ukraine Black Sea grain deal has been extended for two more months, one day before Russia could have quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension in a televised speech and it was confirmed by Russia and Ukraine. The […] Read more
U.N. efforts to save Black Sea grain deal to continue in coming days
Russia demands include restarting ammonia pipeline
United Nations | Reuters — The U.N. aid chief said on Monday efforts will continue in coming days to extend a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, a pact Russia has threatened to quit effective Thursday over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. The final two ships are due to […] Read more
Black Sea grain deal could be extended two months, Turkish minister says
Inspections of outbound vessels have resumed
Istanbul | Reuters — Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday he thought the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal could be extended for at least two more months, as officials from the parties involved held the first day of talks on an extension in Istanbul. Russia has said it would not extend the pact beyond […] Read more
Russia to keep talking with UN before Black Sea deal deadline
Deal on table for talks Friday in Istanbul
Moscow | Reuters — Russia said on Wednesday that it will keep talking to the United Nations about the future of a deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, but would not do anything to harm its own interests. Top UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan is due to travel to Moscow […] Read more
EU sets Ukraine grain import restrictions in five countries until June 5
Supports pledged for farmers in those countries
Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission said on Tuesday it set restrictions until June 5 on imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed to ease the excess supply of these grains in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The EU executive arm said that during that period, Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and […] Read more