Market reports suggest that Argentine beef shipments to the European Union have reduced to almost zero amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Sales to China, the main buyer, have dropped below 2019 levels.
The Bahamas flagged vessel named Bader III, which specializes in transporting live cattle, docked last weekend at Estaleiro Rio Grande Pier, Brazil, to handle the largest ever shipment of such cargo at the port.
China has not approved any new Brazilian meat plants for export this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, an official at Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said, adding that all approvals were on hold until the crisis eases.
Two of the leading international seafood expos and fisheries business hubs have been suspended as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Diversified Communications, which organizes the Seafood Expo North America in Boston said the event, scheduled for March 15/17 has been postponed.
Soybean output for Argentina -- the world's third-largest soy producer and exporter -- is forecast to be at 52 million tons, down 4.6% on February estimates and 6% year on year, in 2019-20 crop year (November-October), on dry conditions in Córdoba and Santa Fe, a Buenos Aires Grains Exchange report said on Thursday.
Argentina’s main farm groups will hold a four-day sales strike this week, officials with local growers groups said on Thursday, to protest a tax hike that soy crushing companies warn will cripple investment in the key sector.
The Trump administration would face resistance from the U.S. Congress if it tried to push through a mini trade deal with the European Union that did not include agriculture, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said on Wednesday.
Argentina raised taxes on soybean exports to 33% from the current 30%, a spokesman for the CRA confederation of farmers said on Tuesday following a meeting with government officials.
Brazil, the world’s largest soy producer, and supplier, shipped 3.55 million tons of soybeans in the first three weeks of February, up 367% month on month, according to a report from the Brazilian foreign trade department.
Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry will allow for agrochemicals awaiting regulatory approval to receive licenses automatically, potentially allowing new pesticides to reach the market faster, according to new rules published on Thursday.