Global cereal production in 2023 could reach a record 2.819 billion tonnes, up 1.1 percent from 2022, according to a June FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) survey.
Last month’s forecast was raised by 5.9 million tons. “The adjustment is almost entirely due to an improvement in the global wheat crop outlook. At the same time, despite the fact that the forecast of its harvest was raised by 0.9%, to 783.3 million tons, it is still 18.4 million tons below the record level of 2022,” – said in the review.
In particular, harvest estimates in the EU, Canada, Kazakhstan and Turkey were raised. “Expected production gains in these countries more than offset a significant reduction in the production forecast in Australia, where unusually dry weather conditions have led to lower crop views,” the review said.
The forage grain harvest forecast was “slightly lowered” to 1.512 billion tons. But that’s still 2.9% higher than 2022.
“The decrease is due to a downward revision in corn harvest forecasts in East Africa. That said, the improvement in the global barley production forecast is largely due to an adjustment in official estimates for Turkey, where the crop is expected to be higher than originally projected. However, it did not fully compensate for the drop in corn production,” the survey said.
The rice production forecast is “slightly adjusted upward” to 523.7 million tons due to improved crop views in Bangladesh and other countries along and south of the equator. Last year’s revised figures put the crop at 517.6 million tons.
After liberation of Kiev region from Russian invaders the police actively restores security system, the project “Safe Kiev region” continues to work, the information from almost 2 thousand video surveillance cameras helps to solve serious crimes and search for the missing, the head of the Main Department of the National Police in Kiev region Andrey Nebitov said.
In an exclusive interview to Interfax-Ukraine agency, speaking about the system of video surveillance in the region and the results of the project of security and monitoring “Safe Kyiv Region”, Nebitov reminded that the project “Safe Kyiv Region” has become the only information space of security system for Ukrainian communities, which provides video recording of traffic and pedestrian traffic.
Commenting on the information that the project may stop working due to the suspension of supplies of equipment from Chinese manufacturers, the head of the headquarter stressed: “At the moment the cameras are installed, we continue to develop this initiative, in the future the system will be developed even despite the martial law in Ukraine.” “After all, the creation of a safe environment is one of the main components of security. That is, there are no prerequisites for the termination of the project”, – he noted.
According to the head of the police chief, during the occupation of the region at the beginning of the war the enemy destroyed almost 30% of video surveillance cameras, after the deoccupation of the areas began to actively restore the video surveillance system.
Nebitov said that 500 cameras with facial recognition have been integrated recently. “Now there are 1,883 surveillance cameras, of which 480 have the ability to recognize license plates of vehicles and 905 observation cameras. Thanks to this, we have a significant reduction in crime and timely disclosure of crimes on hot pursuit, “- he stressed.
According to Nebitov, over the last month alone, information from video surveillance cameras helped uncover a number of serious and especially serious crimes committed in the region and find people missing, including minors.
The full text of Nebitov’s interview will be published on Interfax-Ukraine website.
Ukrainian mukomols and cereals producers began to develop and gain a foothold in new markets and increase the volume of exports, in 2023 they can deliver on foreign markets 150 thousand tons of flour, said the chairman of the association “Ukrpischeprom”, director of the union “Mukomoly Ukrainy” Rodion Rybchinsky.
“In calendar year 2021 we exported 102 thousand tons of flour, in 2022 the active export began in September and reached 80 thousand tons. In the five months of this year, we have already exported 74,000 tons. With such dynamics, we see the possibility of exporting 150 thousand tons of flour by the end of the year,” he said during a discussion on the prospects of exports during the war, held by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
According to his information, the war has made significant changes in the export of flour and cereals and bran. Previously these products were exported by sea from the main shipment bases in Kherson, Nikolaev, and Odessa. Traditional importers of Ukrainian flour and cereals were UAE, Palestine, Somalia, Israel, and bran – Turkey, where 95% of them were sent by sea.
The war has made significant adjustments to the geography of sales of these products, and today the largest importers of Ukrainian flour are Moldova, Poland, Palestine, Romania, Croatia and Turkey, said Rybchynskyy.
In the EU countries, in particular Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, Portugal, are actively exported cereals. Last year 68 thousand tons of cereals were exported to foreign markets, while during five months of 2023 – 38 thousand tons.
In this case, Rybchinsky noted a change in the ways of sending flour and cereals for export.
“We do not use the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Danube ports. There the rent of one grain warehouse at a distance of 5-10 km from the quay wall can cost $100 thousand per month. Therefore, logistics related to work on the Danube, eat up all the possible earnings,” said the expert, adding that the main export of flour and cereals is carried by road and only 15% by rail.
According to the head of the industry association, exporters now have problems when crossing Western borders. Despite the electronic queue, cars with products stand in queues for 2-3 weeks.
“This has led to the loss of substantial contracts with Polish and Romanian retail chains, where Ukrainian suppliers have not been able to ensure timely delivery of products. Currently, Ukrainian mills have to work mainly with industrial processors,” Rybchynsky explained.
At the same time, he noted that Polish pasta made from Ukrainian flour has already appeared on the Ukrainian market.
Passenger flow through western border of Ukraine in April 2023, thousand
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
Saudi Arabia will increase prices in August for all oil grades for US, Northwest Europe and Mediterranean customers as well as for some grades for Asian customers.Saudi Arabia raises oil prices slightly for US and Europe
The most significant price increases will be for customers from the Mediterranean (1-1.1%) and Northwest Europe (0.8%). For the US, Saudi oil will rise by 0.1%.
The cost of the main grade supplied to Asia, Arab Light, will increase by $0.2 per barrel next month. As a result, it will be $3.2 a barrel more expensive than the Oman and Dubai oil basket.
EUROPE, OIL, SAUDI ARABIA, US
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) announced on its website that the number of non-banking financial market participants decreased by 20 participants to 1265 in June 2023.
At the same time, it noted that the number of banks in June has not changed and amounted to 65.
As of June 30, 103 non-life insurers (104 in May) and 12 life insurers, one insurer with special status, 164 pawnshops (there were 166), 151 credit union (153), 82 leasing companies (85), 629 financial companies (643), 56 insurance brokers and 67 collection companies (66) worked in the non-bank market.
In addition, the market is recognized 25 banking groups and 22 non-banking financial groups (the number has not changed).
During June, 20 participants of the non-banking financial services market were excluded from the registers: four financial companies, one insurer, two pawnbrokers, one credit union and one lessor were excluded from the registers voluntarily, and the other eight financial companies, one credit union and two lessors – forcibly. During June, one collection company was included in the registry.
Besides, according to the law “On Payment Services” two financial companies were excluded from the State Register of Financial Institutions and included into the Register of Payment Infrastructure in the status of payment institutions.
According to the NBU, in June the licenses of financial payment services representatives were issued to four financial companies and denied to one. At the same time, six financial companies, one insurer, two pawnshops, one CC and one leasing company had their licenses revoked on the basis of applications submitted by them, and one financial company was forced to cancel the license as an enforcement measure.
As of June 30, 32 resident payment systems and 16 international payment systems operate in the payment market.
In addition, there are 17 payment institutions (+2 to May), 10 financial institutions with the right to provide payment services (+2), three banks – issuers of electronic money and a postal operator.
Other entities operating in the payment market include 42 commercial agents (against 37 in May) and 35 technological operators of payment services
In June, the National Bank received 287 requests for registration and licensing actions from market participants. The number of requests on financial companies, pawnshops and lessors amounted to 118, on credit institutions (banks and credit unions) – 104, insurers – 62, payment institutions – 3.
