MAIZE 

March NY world sugar #11 (SBH26) today is down -0.09 (-0.55%), and December London ICE white sugar #5 (SWZ25) is down -1.10 (-0.24%). Sugar prices added to this week's losses today, with NY sugar falling to a 1-week low and London sugar sliding to a 4-year nearest-futures low. Sugar prices are under pressure due to a negative carryover from Tuesday, when Covrig Analytics projected a global sugar surplus of +4.1 MMT for the 2025/26 season.

Decarbonising the transport sector is one of the most pressing challenges in the global fight against climate change.

Farmers are facing more frequent heat, drought, pests, and erratic rainfall. Seed demand for varieties that can better handle these conditions is rising.

Corn and soybean futures have already been flirting with multi‑year lows, driven by expectations of ample supplies, weak demand, and subdued export interest.

In a striking intersection of agriculture, culture, and innovation, doctoral student Chris Mujjabi recently rediscovered a seed envelope in a cold storage vault at the University of Illinois that’s helping rekindle connections to home — and pushing forward advances in organic corn breeding.

Although no official communication has been issued by the Zimbabwean government, recent trade data suggests that the country has resumed maize imports — a move seen as a positive step toward addressing domestic grain shortages.

The modest growth forecasts suggest the market won’t see explosive gains, but it is expected to remain stable and resilient. Price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and import restrictions could pose downside risks. On the upside, growing awareness of healthier cooking oils, shifts in dietary patterns, and policy support for domestic processing could offer new levers of growth.

Farmers in the U.S. were nearing completion of the soybean harvest and making solid progress with the corn crop, despite recent showers that delayed field work in the eastern half of the Corn Belt. A poll of 11 analysts found the soybean harvest at about 73% complete by Sunday, and the corn harvest at roughly 59% complete. The ranges were wide: 61%–82% for soybeans and 51%–66% for corn

Brazil is on the verge of a major transformation in its renewable energy sector. According to recent industry reports, corn-based ethanol production is projected to equal sugarcane ethanol output by 2034, marking a historic milestone for the world’s second-largest ethanol producer.

In a significant policy shift, Zimbabwe has officially lifted the ban on maize imports, as announced in Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025. This decision comes after the country's initial projections of a bumper maize harvest were revised downward, indicating a potential shortfall in domestic production.

This decline is attributed to a substantial 26% increase in the 2024–25 maize harvest, reaching 16.12 million tons, well above the country's annual consumption of approximately 12 million tons. Consequently, South Africa remains a net exporter of maize, with a healthy surplus.

Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has raised its forecast for South Africa’s 2024/25 maize crop to roughly 16.3 million metric tons, marking an approximate 27% increase from the previous season’s estimated 12.85 million tons.