- The authorities in Russia are on the way to impose a restriction on grain exports during the period of 15.02 - 30.06.2022 of 11 million tons, including wheat exports of 8 million tons.

- SovEcon has increased the estimate for the sunseed production in Russia in 2021 by 0.2 million tons to 15.5 million tons, which is +2.2 million tons more than 2020 and +0.2 million tons more than the record set back in 2019.

- Over the week of December 13-19, 400,500 tons of wheat were exported from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, which is 1/3 less than the previous week. The largest customers were Algeria with 120,300 tons, Iran with 66,000 tons, Egypt with 63,000 tons, Sudan with 55,200 tons, Liberia with 35,000 tons and Syria with 31,500 tons.

- Over the period of September - October 2021/22, the export of sunseed meal from Russia reached 166,000 tons (+11% compared to the previous season). The main customer remained the EU with a share of 58%.

- On Friday, commodity funds in Chicago were net buyers of 2,500 contracts of corn, 3,500 contracts of soybeans and 2,000 contracts of wheat.

- According to the Statistical Office of China, 790,000 tons of corn were imported into the country in November (1.3 million tons in October and -35.7% compared to November 2020), which is the lowest level for the last 19 months. In the first 11 months of the year, corn imports reached 27.02 million tons (+199%). In November, wheat imports were 750,000 tons (-7.2%), and since the beginning of the season they totaled 8.83 million tons (+17.8%). Barley imports reach 1.53 million tons (+37.3%), and from the beginning of the year they add up to a total of 11.46 million tons (+61.5%). Sorghum imports were 530,000 tons (+117.3%), and from the beginning of the year they reach a total of 8.71 million tons (+104.1%).

- Safras & Mercado lowered their forecast for the first corn production in Brazil to 22.56 million tons from 25.73 million tons in November. A year earlier, the first corn production reached 21.65 million tons. The second corn production is expected at 81.69 million tons (57.15). Therefore, the total corn production for 2021/22 will be 116.09 million tons (119.26 in November).

- Brazil lowers the requirement for blending the biocomponent in diesel fuel to 10% for 2022 from the planned 14% for the year.

- AgRural lowered its forecast for the corn production in Brazil in 2021/22 by 1.1 million tons to 114.4 million tons due to the drought in the southern regions of the country. The soybean production is projected at 144.7 million tons (-0.7).

- The Argentine government imposed restrictions on the export of corn and wheat from the country. For 2021/22, corn exports will be limited to 41.6 million tons and wheat exports will be limited to 12.5 million tons. In 2020/21, exports were 39.8 million tons and 11.2 million tons, respectively. The current restrictions are in line with the higher yields in the country.

- Algeria has announced a tender for the purchase of at least 50,000 tons of durum with delivery in February.