Global Ag News For April 13.2026

TOP HEADLINES

Australia Acts to Secure Urea Amid Supply Risk From Iran War

Australia set up a government working group with the fertilizer industry to safeguard urea supplies at risk from disruptions linked to the war in Iran, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.

About 60% of Australia’s urea — a key nitrogen fertilizer used to boost crop yields — typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that remains constrained despite a US-Iran ceasefire that took effect April 8, Collins told Sky News Australia on Sunday.

The country has sufficient supplies in reserve and “on the water,” Collins said, adding the government is working with industry to secure longer-term availability. Australia is among the world’s largest exporters of wheat, beef, wool and dairy.

Domestic production is expected to begin in mid-2027 at the A$6.5 billion ($4.6 billion) Perdaman Urea Plant in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, she said.

Grocery prices may immediately rise 3% to 4% as higher fuel and fertilizer costs linked to the conflict feed through the economy, Collins said, citing Treasury estimates.

 

FUTURES & WEATHER

Wheat prices overnight are up 10 3/4 in SRW, up 13 in HRW, up 0 in HRS; Corn is up 3 3/4; Soybeans down 1/4; Soymeal down $1.50; Soyoil up 0.84.

Markets finished last week with wheat prices down 15 in SRW, down 5 3/4 in HRW, down 1/4 in HRS; Corn is down 10 1/4; Soybeans up 7 3/4; Soymeal up $12.40; Soyoil down 1.78.

For the month to date wheat prices are down 35 in SRW, down 30 3/4 in HRW, down 3/8 in HRS; Corn is down 13 1/4; Soybeans up 5; Soymeal up $13.00; Soyoil down 1.02.

Year-To-Date nearby futures are up 14.8% in SRW, up 17.4% in HRW, up 7.9% in HRS; Corn is up 1.0%; Soybeans up 14.1%; Soymeal up 12.4%; Soyoil up 41.3%.

Chinese Ag futures (MAY 26) Soybeans down 31 yuan; Soymeal up 1; Soyoil down 21; Palm oil down 94; Corn unchanged — Malaysian Palm is up 19.

Malaysian palm oil prices overnight were up 19 ringgit (+0.42%) at 4557.

There were changes in registrations (-22 Corn). Registration total: 34 SRW Wheat contracts; 93 Oats; 608 Corn; 523 Soybeans; 1,536 Soyoil; 197 Soymeal; 108 HRW Wheat.

Preliminary changes in futures Open Interest as of April 10 were: SRW Wheat down 3,105 contracts, HRW Wheat down 3,077, Corn up 5,369, Soybeans up 6,717, Soymeal up 1,286, Soyoil down 10,870.

 

DAILY WEATHER HEADLINES: 13 APRIL 2026

• NORTH AMERICA: Warm temperatures continue across much of the U.S., wet conditions persist in the Northwest, and dry weather is raising concerns in the Plains’ winter wheat areas.
• SOUTH AMERICA: Mixed temperatures with wet spells will persist across the southern/far northern Pampas corn and soybean regions, while Brazil’s Southeast/Center West turn dry, and wet spells remains confined to the far South and Northwest.
• EUROPE: Central Europe will be warmer over the next five days before turning cooler during days 6–15, with continued wet spells in Germany and the Alps and drier conditions elsewhere.
• ASIA: Wet spells may support China’s winter wheat growing regions but could delay sugarcane harvesting and corn planting, while dry conditions support India’s winter wheat harvest.
• TELECONNECTIONS: MJO Phase 7-8 is forecast to bring wet conditions across South America and Africa through first half of April.

 

Northern Plains: Isolated showers went through this weekend, but many areas remained dry. Several more impulses and batches of showers will move through this week, exiting with some cold air to follow behind it for the weekend. The constant up-and-down temperatures are limiting the rise in soil temperature, which may have some additional cooler periods the rest of April and possibly into May as well. Drought in the west and south will surely take the precipitation coming with the variable conditions, however.

Central/Southern Plains: A front and system combined to produce areas of scattered showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. Some areas saw heavy rainfall while other areas remained completely dry. Several more impulses will move through this week, creating more of the same. Dry areas in the west are the least likely to see precipitation, but may still happen for a few lucky spots. The last system will move through Friday into Saturday, and will be followed by some cooler air, but the active pattern will restart by the middle of next week again. Dryness continues to be a major issue for some winter wheat areas, but other areas are getting some good rainfall to improve drought and soil moisture for corn and soybean planting.

Midwest: A front continued to produce showers over the weekend as it lifted north. Multiple impulses and small systems will produce scattered showers throughout the week, ending with a sweeping cold front moving through on Friday and Saturday. Widespread precipitation and areas of heavy rain will increase soil moisture, but may make it difficult for planting and other fieldwork. Colder air will briefly move through behind the cold front this weekend into early next week, which may slow down thoughts of planting as well.

Delta: It was largely dry over the weekend, reducing soil moisture again and further increasing drought. Fronts may bring through some periods of showers throughout the week, but drier conditions are still looking likely while temperatures are well above normal. A final front will move through on Saturday, bringing through some showers and a brief burst of cooler temperatures. The rainfall will likely not be enough to stave off the growing drought, which continues to produce poor conditions for spring planting and early growth.

Brazil: A front moved into the south with scattered showers over the weekend, but most areas saw isolated showers or none at all. Another system will move into the south and west with scattered showers for midweek, but will quickly return to isolated showers by the end of the week. Outside of Mato Grosso, which may have more consistent showers, much of the safrinha corn growing areas will be dealing with very limited rainfall this week. If rainfall will be more focused on fronts instead of wet season popup showers, as the forecast suggests, this would likely be beneficial for southern corn areas only, and less beneficial for central Brazil. That could be concerning for corn as it begins pollinating this week and into early May.

Argentina: A system moved through the north with scattered showers over the weekend. Another will do something similar for Tuesday and Wednesday. Though the rainfall will be useful, it will only be for the shrinking portion of the crop that was planted late. Harvest continues to progress for early-planted corn and soybeans.

Europe: A system brought showers through western Europe over the weekend and will continue showers near the Mediterranean through Wednesday. A couple of smaller systems will move through northern areas as well, but with limited showers. Most of the continent has favorable soil moisture for winter wheat and early corn planting. However, areas in the northeast have more limited soil moisture and are in need of some good rains over the next several weeks. Multiple systems are in line to at least provide some chances over the next several weeks.

Black Sea: A stalled system produced daily showers last week. Some rainfall continues early this week, and more showers will be possible later this week as well. Soil moisture has slowly been improving since the winter. Above-normal temperatures should help wheat develop at a regular pace.

China: Some heavy rain moved through south-central areas over the weekend, clipping canola areas with some good rainfall. Wheat areas on the North China Plain remained unfavorably drier. A couple of systems will favor south-central areas again this week.

 

The player sheet for 4/10 had funds: net sellers of 2,000 contracts of SRW wheat, sellers of 12,000 corn, sellers of 8,000 soybeans, buyers of 11,000 soymeal, and sellers of 3,000 soyoil.

TENDERS

• CORN, SOYMEAL SALES: Exporters sold 125,640 metric tons of U.S. corn to unknown destinations and 100,000 metric tons of U.S. soymeal to Italy, all for 2025/2026 delivery, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
• SUNFLOWER OIL TENDER: Turkey’s state grain board TMO issued an international tender to purchase and import about 12,000 metric tons of crude sunflower oil, European traders said. The deadline for submission of price offers is April 16.

PENDING TENDERS

• RICE TENDER: South Korea’s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. issued an international tender to purchase an estimated 65,394 metric tons of rice, European traders said. The deadline for submissions of price offers is April 21.

 

 

 

 

TODAY

US CROP EXPORTS: Corn to Unknown Buyers, Soy Meal to Italy

The US Department of Agriculture on Friday announces the following export sales activity on its website:

Two sales announced:

• 125,640 tons of corn to Unknown Buyers for 2025-26 marketing year
• 100,000 tons of soy meal to Italy for 2025-26
  • This is the third flash sale of soybean meal in 2026

 

CROP SURVEY: Brazil Soy, Corn Production Before Conab’s Report

Brazil 2025-26 soybean production seen 1.2m metric tons higher than the national forecast agency’s previous estimate in March, according to the average in a Bloomberg survey of eight analysts.

• The range of estimates varied from 177.1m tons to 182.6m tons
• Brazil’s corn crop seen 1.6m tons higher at 139.9m tons
• Conab, the Brazilian national supply company, is scheduled to release its latest estimates on April 14 at 9am local time.

 

APK-Inform consultancy revises down Ukraine 2026 grain harvest forecast

Ukrainian APK-Inform agriculture consultancy said on Monday it had revised down Ukraine’s 2026 grain harvest forecast to 58.2 million metric tons from the previous outlook of 58.6 million tons and versus 61.1 million tones harvested in 2025.

The consultancy slightly reduced the forecast for wheat and corn harvest, and noted that the crop may include 19.9 million tons of wheat, 31.5 million tons of corn and 5.1 million tons of barley.

It also cut the grain exports outlook for Ukraine’s current 2025/26 July-June season to 38.2 million tons from previous 40.2 million due to a sharp decrease in wheat export forecast to 13 million tons from 14.5 million tons.

 

SOYBEAN/CEPEA: Global soybean and soymeal prices hold firm; oil under pressure

Cepea, 10 – International soybean and soybean meal prices remained firm this week, supported by strong external demand. In contrast, soybean oil prices declined, pressured by lower crude oil prices

In Brazil, prices of soybean products posted slight declines this week amid ample supply and the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian Real, which reduces export competitiveness.

SOYBEAN MEAL – Data from the USDA indicate that the global consumption of soybean meal is at 285.65 million tons in 202526, 0.32% more than in the previous report and 12.76 million tons above that verified last year.

Brazilian exports totaled 1.92 million tons in March, a record for the month, according to data from Secex.

On the average of the regions surveyed by Cepea, prices for soybean meal decreased by 0.2% between April 2 and 9.

SOYBEAN OIL – Price declines in the international market are linked to falling crude oil prices following the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The Brazilian value of soy oil declined by 1% from April 2 and 9, averaging BRL 7,005.90 per ton (in São Paulo city with 12% ICMS) on April 9.

The USDA projects increases of 2.31% in global soybean oil output (totaling 71.70 million tons) and 3.54% in consumption (70.76 million tons), reinforcing the perspective of firm demand.

Data from Secex indicate that Brazil shipped 176.91 thousand tons of soy oil in March, downing 13.02% in relation to the previous month.

SOYBEANS – The CEPEA/ESALQ Index (Paraná) declined by 0.4% from April 2-9, to close at BRL 121.81 per 60-kg bag on April 9. The CEPEA/ESALQ Index (Paranaguá) moved down 0.5% in the same comparison, closing at BRL 127.84 per 60-kg bag. The US dollar decreased by 1.9%, closing at BRL 5.065, the lowest value since April 2024.

The USDA has released a report this month indicating that the global soy output is expected to increase only 0.05% in the 2025/26 season, at 427.41 million tons, while final stocks are likely to decline by 0.41%, at 124.79 million tons.

Brazil exported 14.51 million tons of soybeans in March, 105.29% above that in February, but a slight decrease of 0.96% in relation to March 2025.

CROPS – Conab reports that 82.1% of the area had been harvested up to April 4, below the 85.3% verified in the same period in 2025, but higher than the average over the last five years (78%).

 

CORN/CEPEA: Index declines slightly, but remains near BRL 69 per bag

Cepea, 10 – Corn prices declined slightly in the domestic market in recent days, while holding near BRL 69.00 per 60-kg bag for most of the month. Between April 2 and 9, the ESALQ/BM&FBovespa Index for corn prices decreased only 0.5%, to close at BRL 69.59 per 60-kg bag on April 9.

Price decreases are linked to weak buyer interest, as purchasers report comfortable inventories and expect further declines in the coming days. Sellers, in turn, have been more willing to trade, lowering prices at times. This scenario reflects the depreciation of the U.S. dollar, which reduces export parity, as well as the progress of the summer crop harvest and the return of rainfall in some second-crop corn areas.

On the average of the regions surveyed by Cepea, corn values moved down 0.5% in the wholesale market (deals between processors) and 1.5% in the over-the-counter market (paid to farmers) from April 2-9. The US dollar closed at BRL 5.06 on April 9, the lowest level since April 2024, dropping by 1.9% against that seen on April 2.

 

India’s March palm oil imports fall 19% to three-month low

India’s palm oil imports in March dropped nearly 19% on-month and hit a three-month low after a rally in tropical oil prices, in line with energy markets, prompted refiners to hold back purchases, a trade body said on Monday.

Lower imports could deplete stocks and support local oilseed prices, but may force the world’s biggest edible oil importer to step up overseas buying in the coming months to replenish stocks.

India’s palm oil imports in March fell to 689,462 metric tons, the lowest since December 2025, down from 847,689 tons in February, the Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) said in a statement.

Imports of soyoil dropped 4% to 287,220 tons, while those of sunflower oil were up about 35% at 196,486 tons, the SEA said.

India’s overall edible oil imports fell more than 9% from February to 1.17 million tons in March, the lowest since April 2025, as palm oil and soyoil purchases declined, the data showed.

India sources most of its palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, while soyoil and sunflower oil are imported mainly from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

Supplies of rapeseed oil from the new-season crop are rising, helping to limit imports in the short term, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trade house.

“Buyers are waiting for a price correction. If prices don’t ease in the next few weeks, Indian refiners will step up purchases,” the dealer said.

 

Russia Increases Grain Export Quota by 5m Tons: IFX

Russian government has approved an additional export quota of 5m tons for wheat, meslin, barley and corn, valid through June 30, Interfax reports, citing government decree.

• The base quota was 20m tons

 

Western Australia Mulls Own Diesel Reserve After War Disruptions

Western Australia is considering its own strategic stockpile of diesel with fuel paid for by the state after the Iran war led to shortages for key industries such as farming and mining.

“This would be solely for West Australians and be directed at the discretion of the state government to areas that need it most,” Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said at a press conference on Sunday, adding that more details would be provided in the coming days and weeks. The reserve would hold “millions of liters” and use “capacity in the existing distribution network,” she said.

The minister didn’t immediately respond to request for comment on Monday.

Western Australia is the country’s biggest producer of wheat and is home to vast mining operations including iron ore and gold, with Sanderson estimating the state accounts for 25% of the nation’s diesel consumption. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to visit more Southeast Asian nations this week in an effort to shore up fuel supplies as the Iran war shows no signs of abating.

Establishing a strategic reserve is a “sensible move,” said Aaron Morey, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, adding that the CME was looking forward to continuing work with the government “on the design and implementation” of the mechanism.

The Western Australian Farmers Federation said that they proposed separate stockpiles at a roundtable with the government on March 10, according to a statement, adding that it would improve supply security for growers.

 

Brazil ethanol sector ready to fill demand from higher blends

Brazil’s ethanol makers are ready to raise output if the government hikes the legal mix of anhydrous ethanol blended with gasoline from 30% to 32% this year, industry figures said, adding that production is heading towards a record.

Brazil’s government wants to raise the ethanol blend to 32% in the first half of the year, the country’s Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira said this week, amid higher costs for fossil fuels as oil prices surge following conflict in Iran.

“It’s an excellent moment for this decision, because we are at the start of the harvest … mills are in the early phase of defining their production mix,” Mauricio Muruci, a sugar and ethanol analyst at consultancy Safras & Mercado, told Reuters.

A higher ethanol blend would increase the share of sugarcane processed into biofuel in Brazil. Safras & Mercado estimates the proportion of cane used to make ethanol rather than sugar would rise to 54%, one percentage point above its previous forecast following the minister’s comments, compared with 51% in the previous season, Muruci said.

With more cane allocated to ethanol and the continued strong expansion of corn‑based ethanol, total production in Brazil could reach between 44 billion and 44.5 billion liters — a record level and about 15% higher than last season, Safras & Mercado said.

Industry groups including sugarcane association Unica and corn‑ethanol group Unem said the sector is ready to increase supply under a higher blend mandate, which would require an additional 2 billion liters of ethanol.

Unica does not expect supply problems in Brazil, it said, forecasting 2026/27 ethanol production at “the highest volume ever recorded,” with growth of about 4 billion liters.

Unem echoed that assessment, saying corn‑ethanol output alone is expected to contribute 2 billion liters to the forecast expansion. The group estimates that amount alone would meet the requirements caused by hiking the mix of ethanol to gasoline to 32%.

“In other words, to meet this additional demand, half of the growth expected from the sector (corn and sugarcane) in the harvest now beginning is enough,” said Thiago Skaf, Unem’s director of government relations and sustainability.

 

Meatpacker JBS reaches tentative agreement with striking Colorado workers

Workers at JBS ratified a tentative two-year agreement with the world’s largest meat company, covering nearly 3,800 workers at the JBS flagship beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, according to statements from both the union and the company on Sunday.

The agreement with the workers, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UCFW Local 7) and JBS, came as the two returned for a round of talks on April 9-10 after a month of strikes to press for wages that reflect inflation and a halt to company charges for replacing protective equipment.

The new agreement, which JBS says is unchanged from its last offer, secures an almost 33% wage increase over the next 2 years, protects workers from having to pay for personal protective equipment, and safeguards them against increases in healthcare costs, according to Local 7.

While the meatpacker said it was pleased with the agreement reached, it “expressed disappointment that UFCW Local 7 leadership chose to eliminate the historic pension benefit that was part of the national agreement negotiated last year in partnership with UFCW International”, according to the company’s statement.

As part of the agreement, the union is also withdrawing seven alleged unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against JBS, the company said.

Beef prices set records this year after the nation’s cattle supply dropped to a 75-year low, leading meatpackers such as JBS to buy cattle to slaughter, even as they benefited from the rising prices.

The strike at JBS dealt a blow to U.S. processing capacity, after Tyson Foods TSN.N closed a beef plant in Nebraska this year and reduced operations at a Texas facility.

 

HIGH RAINFALL LIKELY TO ARRIVE IN THE SECOND CROP REGIONS OF CENTRAL BRAZIL

Weather anomaly severity: Moderate

Crops impacted: Corn, Soybean, Coffee, Sugarcane

Preferred model for the next 5 days: EC Op

Preferred model for the 6-15 day timeframe: EC Ens

Forecast confidence: Relatively high for Brazil over the next 15 days due to strong alignment with a pronounced MJO trend; low after day 8 in Argentina

Model change from previous runs: Drier in Brazil for 11-15 day timeframe

Significant weather anomalies:

Brazil:

• Persistently dry conditions in the South and Southeast for the next 10-15 days, with a single uptick at the end of this weekend
• Increasingly warm weather throughout the next 10 days along the southern and south-central regions (2-4 °C above normal)
• Dry conditions in the North and Northeast over the next 7-8 days (10-20 mm deficits), with a gradual change into a wet pattern across the North and Central during 8-15 day timeframe (rainfall surpluses between 20-40 mm in Mato Grosso, Tocantins and Maranhao)
• The arrival of high rainfall in northern and central regions will aid domestic sugarcane in Maranhao and support the 2nd corn crop during early pollination, reducing soil moisture deficits
• Warm and dry weather in the South and Southeast will support a rapid harvesting of corn, soybean, and coffee

Argentina:

• Expansion of warmth across the Pampas throughout the next 10 days (up to 2-3 °C above normal mid-next week)
• Continuation of high rainfall in far northern crop areas (Santiago Del Estero, Santa Fe), which will increase the risk of soybean/corn crop damage and slowing harvests
• Relatively dry conditions over the next 7-9 days across the central and southern Pampas with high rainfall deficits (15-30 mm below normal), potential for local rainfall expansion afterward
• Soil moisture will decline in the most southern crop districts (Buenos Aires)

 

 

 

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