Category: Analysis

Ahead of Xi’s arrival in Washington for talks, China announced new restrictions on exports of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production. The Ministry of Commerce, Customs, and the Ministry of Public Security announced the addition of new chemicals to the list. This requires an export license for shipments to the US, Mexico, or Canada. There… Continue reading China adjusts export controls on precursor chemicals ahead of talks

Wheat prices were up slightly in Hubei last week, while flour and bran prices continued to fall. New crop corn is being harvested and entering the market at prices around 2,160-2,220 yuan per ton, down 40 yuan per ton compared to last week. Hubei’s grain bureau notes that this leading to a wider spread in… Continue reading Early corn harvest in central China increases quality spread in wheat

The National Development and Reform Commission held its September press conference, with a large portion covering the effects and preparations for El Niño. The spokesperson said China has built over 1 billion mu (66.7 million hectares) of high-quality farmland and irrigates over 1.09 billion mu (72.7 million hectares), which help mitigate the effects of the… Continue reading NDRC covers El Niño risks and anti-involution efforts in September press conference

Soybean shipments from Brazil to China were slightly higher last week at 1.58 million tons. YTD shipments based on lineup data were 73.4 million tons, up 1.5% year on year. Shipments from the US Gulf increased to 447k tons, the highest since February 2026. Grain and feed shipments from Brazil to China picked up last… Continue reading Highest US soy shipments since February, Brazil sorghum exports accelerate

Summary Corn prices fell in September as the harvest nears. Challenges from weather in the northeast should be more than offset by an increase in planted area, with local government subsidy data from Heilongjiang showing a strong increase in corn planting at the expense of soybeans. Weather risks remain over the next 10 days in… Continue reading Corn Update – 2029-09-21

The National Meteorological Center issued a risk warning for continuous rainy weather for large areas of central China from September 21 through September 28. The center notes that frequently rainfall is expected, creating a high risk for the grain harvest. From September 23-27, a band of rainfall covering parts of Chongqing, Shaanxi, Hubei, Henan, and… Continue reading Weather risks warns of rains in central China during harvest

Feed production in August was 31.24 million tons, up 4.5% compared to July, and up 3.2% year on year. There continues to be a split between compound feed and concentrated and additive premixes. Compound feed output was 29.4 million tons, up 4.3% compared to July, and up 3.7% year on year. Concentrated feed production was… Continue reading Feed production rises in August, corn use in feed falls

August railway passenger volumes were 521 million, up 3.1% year on year. January through August were 3.3 billion passengers, up 3.9% year on year. Passenger-kilometers was up by 1.2% year on year, indicating the growth is from shorter trips.   The National Railway Administration noted that during the summer travel season from July 1 through… Continue reading Rail passenger volumes up in August, but freight falls