USA – beef production to rise in 2020

Driven by strong global demand for meat and the African swine fever (ASF) epidemic in Asia, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is forecasting US beef production to rise by 1.2%, or 150,000t, in 2020 to reach 12.5m tonnes.

Australia – beef exports surge in January

Australian beef exports for January saw double-digit growth thanks to strong meat demand from China. New figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) show January beef exports were up 17% year on year to 79,000t. China bought 21,000t of Australian beef in January.

Europe – wheat production to fall

Strategie Grains, the French grain market specialists, has lowered its estimate for European wheat production in 2020 by over a 1m tonnes to a new forecast of just under 139m tonnes. European grain farmers produced 146m tonnes of wheat last year.

Argentina – maize production to rise

Grain analysts in Argentina have raised their forecasts for the country’s maize (corn) production in 2020 due to improved soil moisture. The Rosario Grain Exchange raised its forecast for Argentinian maize production by 1m tonnes to a new level of 50m tonnes for this year.