USA – maize harvest nears finish line

As we approach December, US tillage farmers continue to harvest crops. At the end of last week, 15% of the US corn (maize) crop was yet to be harvested. In states like North Dakota, only 30% of the 2019 corn crop is harvested and further heavy snow is forecast.

Argentina – October beef exports soar

Argentinian beef exports for the month of October stood at 65,385t, which is a 20% increase on September exports and a massive 60% increase on beef export volumes in October 2018. Incredibly, 50,000t of October exports, or more than 75%, were shipped to China.

China – pork imports double in October

Chinese pork imports for the month of October stood at 177,500t, which is double the same month last year. This brings Chinese pork imports for the first 10 months of 2019 to 1.5m tonnes, which is up 50% on last year. Chinese beef imports are up 55% this year to 1.3m tonnes.

EU – dairy exports surge ahead in 2019

Exports of dairy commodities from the EU to world markets have been very strong in 2019. For the first nine months of the year, butter exports from the EU are up 30% on last year to 125,000t, while SMP exports are also up 30% close to 765,000t. Cheese exports are up 4% to 650,000t.