Grain: World Markets and Trade, February 2006

Grain: World Markets and Trade
Foreign Agricultural Service Circular Series
FG 02-06
February 2006

Sharply lower corn and wheat production this year is expected to drop Argentine grain exports to a 7-year low. While last year record exports made it the world’s second largest grain exporter, this year it is expected to fall to fifth place. For corn, lower area and unfavorable growing conditions have curtailed production. This, coupled with robust domestic feed demand, has added upward pressure to prices. Recent FOB quotes (Up River) are at or above U.S. Gulf prices, which has not happened for about 3 years. While new crop sales remain slightly ahead of last year, the pace has slowed considerably in recent weeks.

For wheat, production fell this year as dryness at planting sharply reduced area (harvested area is currently estimated at a 10-year low). Smaller exportable supplies have already impacted sales, which are currently down 25 percent from this time last year. More dramatically, with stronger demand from neighboring Brazil, current sales to other markets are down two-thirds compared to this time last year.

Wheat Commentary	[Text]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]
Wheat Data Tables	[Excel Spreadsheet Format]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]

Rice Commentary	[Text]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]
Rice Data Tables	[Excel Spreadsheet Format]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]

Coarse Grains Commentary	[Text]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]
Coarse Grains Data Tables	Excel Spreadsheet Format]	[Adobe Acrobat Format]

Short Crops Reduce Argentine Grain Exports