Global Ag News For April 24.2026

TOP HEADLINES

At least 18 ships delayed in loading of grains due to trucker protest at Argentina’s Quequen port

At least 18 boats faced delays in grains loading at Argentina’s Quequen port due to a protest staged by a small group of truckers, according to port data seen on Thursday.

The truckers began a strike on April 7, blocking access to Bahia Blanca and Quequen ports, demanding rate increases after fuel prices rose nearly 30% this year due to the Middle East conflict.

 

FUTURES & WEATHER

Wheat prices overnight are up 3 1/2 in SRW, up 1 1/4 in HRW, down 0 in HRS; Corn is up 2; Soybeans up 3; Soymeal up $1.00; Soyoil up 0.43.

For the week so far wheat prices are up 20 3/4 in SRW, up 27 1/4 in HRW, up 1/5 in HRS; Corn is up 8; Soybeans down 5 1/4; Soymeal down $9.60; Soyoil up 3.50.

For the month to date wheat prices are down 2 3/4 in SRW, up 31 3/4 in HRW, up 1/5 in HRS; Corn is down 2 1/2; Soybeans down 8 1/4; Soymeal up $3.20; Soyoil up 2.60.

Year-To-Date nearby futures are up 20.5% in SRW, up 29.5% in HRW, up 17.5% in HRS; Corn is up 3.7%; Soybeans up 12.9%; Soymeal up 9.4%; Soyoil up 49.8%.

Chinese Ag futures (JUL 26) Soybeans down 58 yuan; Soymeal down 15; Soyoil down 45; Palm oil down 24; Corn down 9 — Malaysian Palm is up 19.

Malaysian palm oil prices overnight were up 19 ringgit (+0.41%) at 4598.

There were changes in registrations (-33 Corn, -50 Soyoil, -86 HRW Wheat). Registration total: 34 SRW Wheat contracts; 93 Oats; 173 Corn; 523 Soybeans; 1,026 Soyoil; 125 Soymeal; 22 HRW Wheat.

Preliminary changes in futures Open Interest as of April 23 were: SRW Wheat down 10,382 contracts, HRW Wheat up 4,270, Corn up 783, Soybeans down 18,694, Soymeal down 9,059, Soyoil up 1,588.

 

DAILY WEATHER HEADLINES: 24 APRIL 2026

• NORTH AMERICA: According to our recent LSEG Monthly Outlook, warm weather in the U.S. is the most likely solution for May while there are some uncertainties on rainfall
• SOUTH AMERICA: The latest EC Monthly suggests drier than normal conditions across most of the second corn crop areas of Brazil in May
• EUROPE: There is no end in sight for cool conditions across the main crop areas of eastern Europe in the 15-day forecasts
• BLACK SEA: Ground frost warnings remain for Ukraine for the next two days and are likely to continue through most of next week
• TELECONNECTIONS: A negative Trans-Atlantic Dipole (TAD) expected over the next 4-5 months will mitigate the risks of frost across the coffee areas of SE Brazil

 

Northern Plains: Isolated to scattered showers through Monday. Temperatures below to well below normal Friday-Monday. Outlook: Mostly dry Tuesday-Saturday. Temperatures below normal Tuesday-Saturday.

 

Central/Southern Plains: Isolated to scattered showers through Monday. Temperatures below normal north and above normal south Friday-Monday. Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers Tuesday-Thursday. Mostly dry Friday-Saturday. Temperatures below normal north and above normal south Tuesday-Wednesday, near to below normal Thursday-Saturday. 

Midwest – West: Isolated to scattered showers through Monday. Temperatures near to above normal Friday-Monday.

Midwest – East: Isolated to scattered showers Friday. Mostly dry Saturday-Sunday. Isolated to scattered showers Monday. Temperatures above normal through Monday. Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers Tuesday. Mostly dry Wednesday-Saturday. Temperatures below normal west and above normal east Tuesday, near to below normal Wednesday-Thursday, below normal Friday-Saturday.

Brazil: Spotty showers continue around Mato Grosso, but much of central Brazil will remain dry as the wet season rainfall has essentially come to an end a couple of weeks early. A front is stalling across the south and will produce periods of showers for Rio Grande do Sul and Parana at times through next week. Much of the safrinha corn acreage will be dry, though. The country will then rely on fronts to bring through extra moisture as corn is now pollinating for the next couple of weeks. The forecast is only calling for these fronts to move into the far south. When it is not raining, temperatures are very high, creating additional stress. The lower soil moisture built up this wet season will soon be depleted, a poor outlook for safrinha corn.  

Argentina: Crops continue to mature and the rainfall is becoming less and less important with each passing day. Occasional rain may disrupt the maturing process as well as harvest.

 

The player sheet for 4/23 had funds: net buyers of 4,000 contracts of SRW wheat, buyers of 2,000 corn, buyers of 2,000 soybeans, sellers of 1,000 soymeal, and sellers of 1,000 soyoil.

TENDERS

• WHEAT TENDER: Saudi Arabia has issued a tender to purchase 710,000 metric tons of wheat, the General Food Security Authority said on Thursday. The delivery of the wheat is scheduled for the period from June through August 2026, according to the GFSA. Wheat with 12.5% protein content is sought from global origins and the deadline for price offers is April 24, the statement added. European traders said results are expected on April 27.
• U.S. WHEAT PURCHASE: The Taiwan Flour Millers’ Association bought an estimated 105,950 metric tons of milling wheat to be sourced from the United States in an international tender on Thursday, European traders said. The purchase involved two consignments for shipment from the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast.
• U.S. BUYS WHEAT FROM POLAND: Buyers in the United States purchased milling wheat in Poland in past weeks as cheaper supplies were sought because of high U.S. wheat prices, European traders said on Thursday. Estimates of the volumes involved varied. A trader in Poland said four shipments of Polish milling wheat of 30,000 tons each were sold for shipment to U.S. East Coast flour mills. One German trader said two to four shipments of the same size were sold. Another German trader reported two shipments sold.
• CORN PURCHASE: South Korea’s Major Feedmill Group (MFG) purchased about 134,000 metric tons of animal feed corn in a private deal on Thursday without issuing a formal tender, European traders said. Two 67,000-ton consignments were bought.
• CORN PURCHASE: Leading South Korean feedmaker Nonghyup Feed Inc. (NOFI) purchased around 67,000 metric tons of animal feed corn in a private deal on Thursday without an international tender being issued
• FEED BARLEY TENDER: Tunisia’s state grains agency OdC has issued an international tender to purchase an estimated 25,000 metric tons of animal feed barley, European traders said on Thursday. The deadline for price offers is April 24, and the grain can be sourced from optional origins.

PENDING TENDERS

• RICE TENDER: South Korea’s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. issued an international tender to purchase an estimated 65,394 tons of rice, European traders said. The deadline for submissions of price offers was April 21.
• RICE TENDER: South Korea’s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. issued an international tender to purchase about 20,000 tons of rice sourced from the United States and Vietnam, European traders said. The deadline for submissions of price offers in the tender is April 28. Results of the tender may not be known for some weeks after price submissions, traders said.
• BARLEY TENDER: Jordan’s state grains buyer issued an international tender to purchase up to 120,000 metric tons of animal feed barley, European traders said. The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is April 29.

 

 

 

 

 TODAY

Argentina Soy Forecast Rises Slightly on Good Weather: Exchange

The forecast for soybean production is 48.6m metric tons, up from 48.5m last week, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange said in a weekly report.

• Satellite images show a lower-than-thought planted area, but rains since mid-February that boosted yields in the key “zona nucleo” region more than compensate
• Soy harvest is 10% complete

 

Africa Corn Crop Seen at Record; Wheat Plantings at 11-Yr Low

Crop Estimates Committee increases its forecast for corn output produced by commercial growers in 2026 by 2% to 16.84 million tons.

• The harvest would be the largest on record, it says in an emailed statement
• It raised the estimate for production of the white variety by 3.7% to 9.08 million tons, and kept the forecast for yellow corn unchanged at 7.75 million tons
• Wheat producers intend to plant 486,400 hectares of land for the 2026 production season; this is 6% less than in 2025 and would be the smallest area since 2015

 

Global Grains Stockpiles Set to Climb on Record Production: IGC

Grain inventories at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season are expected to rise by 9% from the previous period, the sharpest expansion in nine years, International Grains Council says in a report.

• Total grains production for season seen climbing 6% to all-time high of 2.474 billion tons
  • Higher output coupled with slower demand growth to lead to higher inventories
• Global grains production seen at 2.41 billion in 2026-27
  • Concerns about fertilizer affordability and application decisions have added to uncertainty about the outlook

 

Brazil Biodiesel Blend Tests Set to End by Feburary 2027: Abiove

Brazil is working with a deadline of February 2027 to conclude tests on increasing a mandatory biodiesel blend, says André Nassar, the executive president of vegetable oils industry group Abiove.

• Technical tests will evaluate motors running on blends of as much as 20% and 25%, Nassar tells journalists on the sidelines of a conference in São Paulo
  • That would support a gradual increase of the mandatory blend, that’s currently at 15%
• The latest schedule represents a faster testing phase versus prior proposals: Nassar
  • A previous test schedule risked delaying a blend mandate increase to the second half of 2027
• War in Iran and rising fossil fuel prices helped negotiations between industry and authorities on how to accelerate the pace of tests: Nassar
  • Industry to provide financial resources for hiring multiple laboratories, in order to run tests faster

 

Palm Seen Supported at 4,500 Ringgit/T on Biofuel Demand: MPOC

Palm oil prices will likely remain supported at 4,500 ringgit/ton in the near term, underpinned by stronger biodiesel economics, elevated crude oil prices, and a potential El Niño, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

• “Rising vegetable oil demand for biodiesel blending in key exporting countries is expected to keep prices supported, as this would effectively reduce exportable supplies,” the council said in a statement on Friday
• NOTE: Benchmark futures in Kuala Lumpur traded at 4,579 ringgit a ton on Thursday
• An estimated 1 million-1.5 million tons of palm oil in Southeast Asia are expected to be absorbed by stronger domestic demand in 2H
  • Indonesia will need a further 3 million tons/year to fulfil its B50 mandate if fully implemented; Malaysia will require an additional 300,000 tons/year under its new B15 mandate; Thailand’s move to B7 will need an additional 350,000 tons/year for blending
  • Thailand’s new control on crude palm oil exports will also add to supply tightness
• Potential risk of El Niño developing could provide further price support to palm oil
  • Malaysia has experienced reduced rainfall since mid-March, and conditions may persist until June, according to the country’s weather office
• However, any further price rally may be capped by softer export demand due to inflation, weaker economic growth in key importing countries, and rising supplies as production enters its seasonal peak
  • Argentine soy oil trading near parity with palm olein could also cap demand

 

Malaysia Reviews Biofuel Policy to Strengthen Energy Security

Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation and Commodities is “refining and reviewing” the national biofuel policy to strengthen the country’s energy security through the use of biomass resources and the circular economy.

• The move ensures Malaysia’s biofuel products remain competitive and meet international standards in addressing climate change challenges, the ministry said in a Friday statement
• Ministry will strengthen collaboration with stakeholders and industry players to ensure each policy is formulated based on comprehensive analysis, it said
• Malaysia’s ability to produce biodiesel that meets international quality standards reflects the readiness of the domestic industry and “reinforces the confidence that the country is ready to implement the transition to a B20 biodiesel blend”
  • The national biodiesel program is currently at B10 in the transport sector and is being expanded in stages to B20
  • This implementation is supported by the availability of the existing supply chain involving 19 licensed biodiesel plants supplying palm methyl ester to 34 blending depots nationwide
• Besides crude palm oil, the government also encourages the use of second-generation raw materials such as palm oil sludge and used cooking oil to produce sustainable aviation fuel and used cooking oil methyl ester
  • Malaysia’s production of second-generation biofuels will be focused on the export market, given the strong international demand for low-carbon fuels and the need to comply with global sustainability standards

 

 

Farmer Bridge Assistance Hands Out Nearly $10B, Says AFBF — Market Talk

Nearly 500,000 farmers in the U.S. have been distributed $9.6 billion in bridge assistance payments by the USDA, according to data compiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The AFBF says that the deadline for farmers to apply for assistance was on April 17, but new strains to farmer’s budgets coming from the supply chain disruption in the Middle East means that farmers need more assistance, says the AFBF. “All nine principal row crops are forecasted to have negative returns even after accounting for federal assistance,” says the AFBF. Corn has accounted for 42% of the assistance doled out, while soybeans accounted for 24%. Farmers in Iowa were the biggest recipient of assistance, totaling $857 million.

 

IKAR consultancy revises down Russia’s 2026 wheat crop to 90 mln tons

IKAR consultancy said on Friday it sees Russia’s 2026 wheat crop at 90 million metric tons, down from 91 million metric tons expected previously, due to “great weather disturbances across Central and parts of Volga federal districts”.

Wheat export potential lowered to 46.5 million metric tons from 47.5 million metric tons in 2026/27 season, it said.

 

LIVESTOCK: US Red Meat Production Rose 2% Y/y in March

Commercial beef and pork production rose to 4.51b pounds in March, according to the USDA’s monthly livestock slaughter report.

• Beef production down 2.7% y/y to 2.1b pounds
• March cattle slaughter totaled 2.34m head, a 5.9% decline from a year ago
  • Avg live weight rose by 45 pounds from last year to 1,471 pounds
• Pork production up 6.5% y/y to 2.4b pounds
• Hog slaughter increased 5.8% y/y to 11,014m head
  • Avg live weight was 292 pounds vs 291 pounds a year ago

 

US farm agency to move research and food safety staff from Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday it will relocate many research and food safety staff from the Washington region as part of its broader reorganization effort.

The agency is in the process of moving most of its Washington-area staff – ​about 2,600 people – to five regional hubs in ​an effort to bring the workforce closer to farmers. Most USDA employees already live outside Washington.

The USDA will move some Washington-based staff of its Economic Research Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture to their Kansas City offices, it said in a press release. The two agencies were relocatedfrom Washington to Kansas City under the first administration of President Donald Trump.

Some employees of the National Agricultural Statistics Service will also move, the release said.

“This move puts our research institutions outside of the beltway and closer to the land grant universities with talent pipelines who will lead the research and solve the problems facing the future of American agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a statement.

The agency will also begin decommissioning its flagship research site in Beltsville, Maryland, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, and relocating research programs, according to the release.

BARC staff have complainedabout unsafe working conditions, though employees also joinedlawmakers and farm groups in criticizing USDA’s plan to close the center, arguing the relocation process would interrupt research.

The USDA will also move about 200 employees of its Food Safety and Inspection Service to a new National Food Safety Center in Urbandale, Iowa, the agency said.

 

US Miss. River Grain Shipments Rise, Barge Rates Decline: USDA

Barge shipments down the Mississippi river increased to 720k tons in the week ending April 18 from 505k tons the previous week, according to the USDA’s weekly grain transportation report.

• Barge shipments of corn rose 32.5% from the previous week
• Soybean shipments up 56.4% w/w
• St. Louis barge rates were $18.11 per short ton, a decline of $0.16 from the previous week

 

Forecast for strong El Nino fans worries about global crops as Iran war bites

• Australia, Southeast Asia, India to face hotter, drier weather
• Heavier rains likely in U.S., LatAm in 2nd half of 2026
• Australian farmers cut wheat, canola planting amid dryness
• Fertiliser shortage, higher fuel prices accentuate farm woes

Forecasts for the strongest El Nino in a decade promise hotter, drier weather across Asia in the second half of 2026, hitting crops and food supplies while farmers grapple with fertiliser shortages and costly fuel caused by the Iran war.

Japan’s weather bureau sees a 70% chance of El Nino emerging in the northern hemisphere summer, while China’s climate officials fear it could persist until year-end and India expects below-average monsoon rains for the first time in three years.

“We are already seeing heat and dryness in parts of Australia and India,” said Chris Hyde, a meteorologist at weather intelligence firm Meteomatics based in Switzerland.

“The last time we saw similar signals was during the severe 2015 to 2016 El Nino,” he said, adding that the two countries, along with Southeast Asia were the among the regions most susceptible to an El Nino and likely to show the earliest signs.

El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. One of the strongest such patterns occurred in 2015 and 2016, triggering widespread drought in Asia, cutting grain and oilseed output.

Typically linked to heavier rains in North and South America, the phenomenon could also disrupt the U.S. autumn harvest, meteorologists and analysts said.

Adding to the weather woes this year are disruption in supplies of fertiliser, as the Iran war chokes traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about 30% of world trade in urea.

 

 

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