Author: Viktoriia Ray
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Ukrzaliznytsia Launches Automated Freight Car Allocation
Ukrzaliznytsia will introduce an automated freight car repair allocation system from January 1, 2026. The platform will balance depot workloads using capacity, current utilization, and geographic proximity. Full digitalization of contracts, documentation, and payments aims to increase transparency and speed. Expected market impact is neutral to mildly bullish, contingent on successful implementation in 2026. Ukrzaliznytsia…
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Argentina soybean processing drops to 3-month low
Argentina’s soybean crush fell to 3.49 MMT in November, a 0.55 MMT month-on-month drop to a 3‑month low amid strong export demand and seasonal supply tightening. Meal and oil inventories declined sharply, with soybean meal stocks down 32% to 728,000 tonnes, tightening near-term product availability. Sunflower seed processing hit a 9‑month low at 306,000 tonnes,…
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State-Guaranteed Loans Ukraine: SMEs Secure UAH 2B in Nov
Financing Momentum: Ukrainian SMEs received 419 state-guaranteed loans totaling about UAH 2 billion in November 2024, reinforcing access to working capital. Program Scale: Since December 2020, the state guarantee program has issued 51,654 loans worth over UAH 168 billion to small and medium-sized businesses. Regional Concentration: Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv oblasts lead in guaranteed loan…
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Ukrainian Feed Barley Prices Fall on Export Weakness
Prices Softer: Ukrainian feed barley fell UAH 100-200/tonne last week to UAH 9,000-10,200/tonne CPT as of December 30, pressured by weak export demand. Export Pressure: Declines in export and related markets weighed on domestic prices despite tightening local supply. Regional Premiums: Southern Ukraine maintains the highest domestic barley prices, supported by better access to export…
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Russian Phytosanitary Inspections Expand Export Access
Expanded inspections: Rosselkhozcenter plans to survey over 20.2 million hectares in 2026 across 58 regions for pests, diseases, and weeds to meet strict importer standards. Export growth: Flaxseed exports from Bashkortostan reached 47,000 tons in early 2025, a 46% year-on-year increase, with China as the main destination. Stricter compliance: Key buyers Egypt, Iran, and China…
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Ukrainian Sunflower Seeds Prices Plunge to Season Low
Prices: Ukrainian sunflower seeds plunged by over UAH 1,000/ton to a season-low of UAH 26,000–27,600/ton. Supply: Harvest reached only 9 million tons versus 11 million tons expected, leaving a 2 million ton shortfall for processors. Trading: Farmer selling slowed sharply as buyers and sellers adopted wait-and-see positions amid weak demand. Logistics: Export constraints and holiday…
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Kazakhstan Corn Financing: 40B Tenge Boost for 2026
Program expansion: Kazakhstan’s Food Corporation increased forward financing for spring 2026 field work to 40 billion tenge from 30 billion tenge in 2025, supporting more farms and higher input needs. Corn inclusion: Corn producers are now eligible under the forward financing scheme alongside wheat, barley, sunflower, flaxseed, and rapeseed, reinforcing the focus on high-margin crops. Long-term lentil…
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Ukrainian Wheat Prices Drop in December on Port Disruptions
Bearish pricing: Ukrainian milling wheat prices in Greater Odessa ports fell USD 6-9/ton in December, ending at USD 208-216/ton CPT (Class 2) and USD 206-214/ton CPT (Class 3). Feed wheat weakness: Feed wheat prices declined by an average USD 9/ton to USD 197-207/ton CPT (port) as buying interest eased toward month-end. Logistics-driven pressure: Military threats,…
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Russian Oilseed Prices Drop; Outlook Weakens
Bearish: Russian soybean prices fell 9.8% month-on-month in November 2025 and are down 24.1% year-on-year amid weak processing demand. Bearish: Rapeseed prices slipped 0.5% on the month and 8.8% year-on-year, reflecting deteriorating margins in the crushing sector. Mixed: Sunflower seed prices rose 1.1% in November but remain 10.7% below year-ago levels, signaling only tentative support.…
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Ukrainian Rail Freight Rates: Grain Stable, Others Mixed
Stable grain logistics: Ukrzaliznytsia keeps grain car rental rates flat at UAH 1,250/day for January 2025, supporting cost predictability for grain exporters and domestic traders. Diverging costs by segment: Tank cars for food products jump 27% while flour car rates fall 27%, signaling shifting demand across processed and liquid agricultural cargoes. Higher bulk freight costs:…