Rainfall supports Australia’s 2024-25 crop prospects
Most of Australia's cropping regions have received between 15-50mm of rainfall in the week ending 19 August but more will be needed to support production outlooks in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA).
Although the rainfall lends further support to the exceptional crop prospects of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland it was more welcome in WA and SA, which have experienced low soil moisture levels during planting and an unusually late start to the growing season. Victoria received a smaller share of last week's rainfall event and will need further rainfall to support soil moisture levels and yield prospects, according to market participants.
The outcomes of WA and SA are dependent on future favourable rainfall. The Grains Industry Association of Western Australia (Giwa) said the state's potential grain output of between 17mn-18mn t is partially dependent on median rainfall for the remainder of August–September. In SA, where 2024-25 grain output is estimated at 7.7mn t and approximately 16pc below the five-year average, achieving near average yields will be dependent on spring (September-November) rainfall, according to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service's latest report expects NSW to achieve well above average wheat and barley yields, while SA and Victoria could achieve around average or
slightly above wheat and barley yields partly because of favourable rainfall outlook for August–October. WA is anticipated to achieve below average yields, which is at odds with the latest Giwa production estimates.
But the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's (BoM) current three-month rainfall forecast does not support higher rainfall levels in almost all Australia's eastern and southern cropping regions, predicting a 50pc chance, or worse, of exceeding median rainfall during September–November.
This could weigh on current production projection. The USDA forecast Australia's wheat and barley production at 30mn t and 11.5mn t respectively for the 2024-25 (October-September) marketing year.
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Brazil's cellulose sector to invest R105bn by 2028
Brazil's cellulose sector to invest R105bn by 2028
Sao Paulo, 22 August (Argus) — Brazil's paper and cellulose sector will invest R105bn ($18.9bn) to build new plants and logistics infrastructure as well as expand existing ones by 2028, Brazilian forestry industry (IBA) president Paulo Hartung said on Tuesday. Multiple companies will invest, with some already doing so. Suzano will invest R15.9bn to build a plant with capacity to produce 2.55mn metric tonnes (t)/yr of eucalyptus-based cellulose. It will also spend R6.3bn in other initiatives, such as building logistical infrastructure and planting. Chile's Arauco will invest R25bn to build its first cellulose plant in Brazil in 2028. The unit will have an initial production of 2.5mn t/yr and will double that by 2032. The project also foresees generation of 400MW of clean energy, which will ensure its energy self-sufficiency. Another Chilean company, CMPC, will also invest R25bn to build a new industrial plant and a port terminal in Rio Grande do Sul state. The 2.5mn t/yr plant will produce bleached eucalyptus-based cellulose, which can be used to make different kinds of paper, packaging and hygiene products. It is also used some food items, medicines and cosmetics. Eldorado Brasil will invest an additional R25bn to add a second production line in its Mato Grosso do Sul state operations and a railway to transport production. Bracell — which is controlled by Singapore-based Royal Golden Eagle — will invest R5bn in a paper tissue plant, which will be installed next to its cellulose plant in Lencois Paulista, in Sao Paulo state. The firm disclosed neither plants' capacity. Finally, Klabin — Brazil's largest producer of packaging paper and corrugated cardboard — also announced a R1.6bn investment, but did not detail how it will use that money. Hartung's announcement came during a sector meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and vice-president and trade minister Geraldo Alckmin. "These investments are being made in areas of low economic activity," Hartung said, adding that the paper and cellulose sector is planting cultivated forests that are replacing unproductive pastures. Brazil's paper and cellulose sector had 10mn hectares of productive planted areas in 2023, according to the federal government. The area to grow cellulose increased by 19pc in the first half of 2024 from the same period last year, it said, without giving a more recent figure. Brazil is the largest exporter and second largest producer of cellulose, according to Alckmin. The 47 companies linked to IBA produced 25mn t of cellulose, 11mn t of paper and 8.5mn m³ of wood panels last year, according to IBA figures. Additionally, Brazil exported a record 19.1mn t of cellulose, the group said. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Work stoppage begins at Canadian railroads
Work stoppage begins at Canadian railroads
Washington, 22 August (Argus) — Operations at Canada's two largest railroads ended Thursday morning at 12:01am ET as a work stoppage began following the failure of labor contract talks. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National (CN) locked out union members, while the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) launched a strike at CPKC. The union has not yet issued a strike notice to CN , but its workers are barred from the property. The work stoppage freezes ongoing train shipments even if they have not reached their destinations. The railroads last week stopped loading railcars with shipments of certain toxic and poisonous materials to keep products from being abandoned in unsafe locations, and this week stopped loading all commodities and other freight within Canada. Operations along CN and CPKC's US lines continue but trains cannot cross into Canada. The union confirmed just after midnight that work stoppages at CN and CPKC had begun. Most Teamsters members stopped work at 12:01am ET, though rail traffic controllers at CPKC will keep working until 2:01am ET. CPKC and CN announced they had formally locked out employees represented by the Teamsters union. CN said the union did not respond to an offer it had made in a last attempt to avoid the strike. Wide range of commodities in crosshairs The work stoppage will affect freight deliveries for a variety of goods across North America, including shipments of propane to rural communities, grain and coal deliveries to Canadian export terminals, and chemical inputs to manufacturing facilities. CN said Wednesday that grain prices were already being affected and that sawmills in British Colombia were cutting shifts. Coal exports from Canadian mines would be held because those operations are only served by CN and CPKC. But western US coal exports are not expected to see much of a disruption since US carrier BNSF has rail lines going directly to Westshore Terminals near Vancouver. BNSF will not be able to interchange railcars with CN and CPKC in Canada, however. Crude markets are also not expected to see significant disruption from a strike in the short term because of pending maintenance at upstream oil sands facilities and spare pipeline capacity. Prices for Canadian propane and butane — which rely heavily on rail to move product from an oversupplied market to the US — fell Wednesday ahead of the strike. Wide gap between workers, railroads The railroads and the Teamsters remain far apart on contract terms. The union — which represents roughly 9,300 train operators and support staff at CN and CPKC and 85 rail traffic controllers at CPKC — said forced relocation and scheduling and fatigue management that will lead to safety risks are the key points of dispute. CN said its offers, which have been turned down repeatedly, would have improved safety, increased wages, and provided employees with better schedules. CPKC chief executive Keith Creel on 19 August claimed union leadership had made "wildly inaccurate characterizations" about the railroad's proposals in order to "create a false public narrative" about negotiations. He said the railroad did not unilaterally change or cancel the terms of the most recent collective agreement or make proposals that compromise safety. Creel said most recently CPKC has focused on a status quo-style contract renewal with a duration of three years. That proposal would have no work rule changes and the railroad only wanted to negotiate "reasonable adjustments" to the timing of held-away pay to address regulatory changes made by Transport Canada last year. CN called on Canadian minister of labour Steven MacKinnon to intervene this week. He has already been meeting with each railroad and the Teamsters. CPKC this week reiterated earlier calls for binding arbitration, but MacKinnon rejected that request on 15 August. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
TLP4 acquires Western Australia's Yeeda beef operation
TLP4 acquires Western Australia's Yeeda beef operation
Dalby, 22 August (Argus) — Canada-based fund management firm affiliate TLP4 plans to take over Western Australia's (WA) Yeeda Pastoral, which includes a beef abattoir and two pastoral properties in the north of the state. Yeeda Pastoral earlier this year entered voluntary administration after its owner Asia Debt Management failed to meet its financial obligations. Yeeda has been sold to TLP4 Australian Holdings, a subsidiary of Alberta Investment Management Corporation, for A$55mn ($37mn). The sale still needs approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board and consent from the WA Pastoral Lands Board. The deal includes the Kimberley Meat Company abattoir, Yeeda Station, Mount Jowlaenga Station, along with a cattle herd of 13,800. Kimberley Meat is the sole operational abattoir in northern WA, processing more than 200 head of cattle daily and a key alternative to live export for local cattle producers. The planned sale provides much needed stability and certainty for the future of northern Australia's pastoral and beef processing infrastructure, said David Osborne from Korda Mentha that handled Yeeda's administration. By Amy Phillips Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canadian rail labor talks continue as deadline nears
Canadian rail labor talks continue as deadline nears
Cheyenne, 21 August (Argus) — Canadian railroads and a major labor union are still in discussions in the final hours before workers could go on strike. Contract negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Canadian National (CN) and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) continued today, CPKC said. If there is no agreement tonight, the union at 12:01am ET Thursday could begin a strike against CPKC and each railroad could begin a lockout of workers. The Teamsters did not issue a required strike notice to CN, but a lockout would still shut its network down. Railroad customers and Canadian authorities are increasingly frustrated by the lack of agreement on new labor contracts. Teamsters members have been working under the terms of contracts that expired in December 2023. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau today urged the railroads and union to resolve the situation and avert a strike. "It is in the best interest of both sides to continue doing the hard work at the table to find a negotiated resolution," Trudeau said. "Millions of Canadians, of workers, of farmers, of businesses, right across the country are counting on both sides to do the work and get to a resolution." Canadian minister of labour Steven MacKinnon yesterday said he met with Ontario's labour minister and would be meeting with each railroad and Teamsters officials in Montreal and Calgary "to deliver our shared message: Get a deal at the table. Workers, farmers, businesses and all Canadians are counting on it." Union members have voted twice to authorize a strike, and each railroad has indicated it will lock out union members at the same time. The latest indication is the strike could happen as early as Thursday 22 August. "CPKC remains focused on and committed to arriving at a negotiated outcome that is in the best interests of all our railroaders and their families," CPKC said today. "We are firmly committed to staying at the bargaining table to reach renewed agreements." The Teamsters and CN did not respond to requests for comment. Last week, the railroads initiated embargoes on shipments of toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) and poisonous inhalation hazards (PIH) materials. Those products include chlorine, ammonia, ethylene and phosgene, as well as rail security-sensitive materials such as explosives. Each carrier has now stopped loading trains in Canada and are focused on delivering existing shipments. Railroads also have stopped shipping trains across the US and Canada border, suspending the movement of multiple products. US rail regulators are actively monitoring the situation, concerned about how a rail labor strike in Canada would affect the US rail network and supply chain. The US Surface Transportation Board said Wednesday it is monitoring the implementation and effects of those embargoes on the network. A number of US railroads last week either implemented their own embargoes or said they will comply with the Canadian embargoes. Western US coal exports are not expected to have much of a disruption if there is a strike since US carrier BNSF has rail lines going directly to Westshore Terminals near Vancouver. But BNSF will not be able to interchange railcars with CN and CPKC in Canada. Crude markets are also not expected to see significant disruption from a strike in the short term because of pending maintenance at upstream oil sands facilities and spare pipeline capacity. Prices for Canadian propane and butane — which rely heavily on rail to move product from an oversupplied market to the US — fell Wednesday ahead of the strike . By Courtney Schlisserman and Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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