In Ukraine, grain export prices have shown an upturn amid steady demand and ongoing problems with shipments by sea. Wheat is being increasingly shipped to Asia, with feed wheat being popular in Spain, Italy and Bangladesh (quotes are voiced at $227-230/t C&F, $200/t DAP and $265/t C&F, respectively).
The overall cargo turnover reached 739,000 t in the Liepaja SEZ in October (up 119,000 t compared with September). The result has become the highest since April 2022. Note that the increase is solely due to a 142,000 t hike in transshipment of dry bulk cargo to 573,000 t.
The first barge caravans of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company with European grain have already been prepared for discharge in the port of Constanta (Romania).
The cargo turnover plunged by 335,000 t to 797,000 t at the Ventspils Freeport in October, showing a 30% slump compared with September. In particular, transshipment of dry bulk cargo dropped by 365,000 t to 393,000 t.
On November 14, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia decided to allocate €50,000 from the state budget to contribute to the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian aid program. This is Latvia’s second investment in this program – last year the country also financed assistance in the amount of €50,000.
LTG Cargo (Lietuvos Geležinkelių) is gradually expanding its operations and intends to purchase up to 500 new grain hoppers through public procurement.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of India has included Ukraine in the list of countries that do not treat grain crops with fumigants containing methyl bromide (CH3Br).
LTG Cargo Ukraine, a subsidiary of Lietuvos geležinkeliai (LTG Cargo), together with the Lithuanian company Tri Trans is organizing the transportation of 44 heavy containers of rapeseed oil from Yahodyn station (Ukraine) to the port of Klaipeda (Lithuania).
On average, as many as 209 wagons were transferred daily through the Chop – Čierna nad Tisou land border crossing point as of November 9 (down 41 units in two weeks). In particular, 183 wagons were moving on export routes (down 40 units), while 26 wagons arrived with imported goods (down 1 wagon).
In the U.S., soybean prices have grown sharply amid large purchases by Chinese importers. Thus, during the week, private exporters have reported sales of a total of 1.7 million t of soybeans to China and 1.1 million t of soybeans to an unknown buyer (most likely also China) for shipments during MY 2023-24.