The FAO has lowered its forecast for global cereal production to 2.756 billion tonnes in 2022, marking a three-year low.

World food prices ease further in November, says FAO

Cereals meat and dairy down, vegetable oils and sugar up

The United Nations food agency’s world price index fell marginally in November, marking an eighth straight monthly fall since a record high in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 135.7 points last month, down from 135.9 for October,

File photo of a train in Belarus. (Dimarik/iStock/Getty Images)

Belarus to allow Ukraine grain transit with no preconditions, U.N. says

Belarus still wants sanctions lifted off fertilizer

United Nations | Reuters — Belarus told the United Nations on Friday that it would allow, without preconditions, the transit of grain from Ukraine through its territory for export from Lithuanian ports, a U.N. spokesman said. Belarus, used by its ally Russia as a staging ground for Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, said in


Ukraine grain exports down nearly a third on crop year to date

Ukraine has exported almost 18.1 million tonnes of grain so far in the 2022-23 season, down 29.6 per cent from the 25.8 million tonnes exported by the same stage of the previous season, agriculture ministry data showed Dec. 2. The volume included more than 6.9 million tonnes of wheat, 9.7 million tonnes of corn and

File photo of Black Sea port facilities at Odesa, Ukraine. (Leskas/iStock/Getty Images)

Russia denies slowing inspections for Ukraine grain ships

Ukraine alleges slow pace 'probably with intent'

Ankara | Reuters — Russia’s ambassador to Turkey said on Friday that Moscow sends its representatives to more ship inspections in Istanbul per day than mandated under the Black Sea grain deal, rejecting a Ukrainian accusation that Russia is slowing down the process. Ukraine’s grain exports have proceeded more slowly since a U.N.-brokered deal was

Ukrainian soldiers capture the moment when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the liberated city of Kherson on Nov. 14, 2022.

From Ukraine: Watermelons, raccoons and laughter through tears

FIRST PERSON: The people of Ukraine are coping with adversity any way they can as winter's grip deepens

I can imagine how Canadians feel when they watch news from Ukraine on television.  Not long ago, we in Ukraine watched reports from Iraq and Syria, and it seemed to us like a broadcast from another planet – a planet of cruelty and destruction. Now we live on this planet.  To maintain a healthy mind,


The Navi Star, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier ship, arrives at the western Ireland port of Foynes delivering 33,000 tonnes of Ukrainian corn on Aug. 20.

Black Sea tensions spur market volatility

Geopolitical concerns arise in a relatively quiet period for market fundamentals

North American grain and oilseed markets saw wide price swings during the week ended Nov. 17. A barrage of conflicting news regarding the long-running conflict in Ukraine was at the forefront. The week started amid talk that Russia was considering backing away from the agreement allowing Ukrainian grain shipments through the Black Sea. Any disruption

Grain ships carrying Ukrainian grain are seen in the Black Sea, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near Ukrainian port of Odesa, Ukraine Oct. 30, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Serhii Smolientsev)

Black Sea grain export deal extended

Deal's terms unchanged; Moscow to still seek removal of obstacles to grain, fertilizer exports

Reuters — A deal aimed at easing global food shortages by helping Ukraine export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports was extended for four months on Thursday, though Russia said its own demands were yet to be fully addressed. The agreement, initially reached in July, created a protected transit corridor and was designed to

CBOT January 2023 soybeans (candlesticks, right column) with 20-day moving average (yellow line) and December 2022 soyoil (black line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soybeans follow soybean oil lower

CBOT wheat, corn retreat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday, anchored by a profit-taking plunge in soyoil and crude oil futures, traders said. Wheat and corn futures declined on optimism about an extension of a deal to protect Black Sea exports, and as fears eased that the Ukraine war could escalate



Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey on Nov. 2, 2022.  (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Reasons for optimism seen on renewal for Ukraine grain deal

Deal set to roll over on Saturday

Reuters — A United Nations source on Wednesday said they have reasons to be “cautiously optimistic” on the renewal of a Black Sea grains export agreement, which is set to roll over on Saturday unless there are objections. The U.N.-backed agreement on July 22 allowed grain shipments to resume from certain Ukrainian ports on the