Buenos Aires | Reuters — Agriculture ministers from the G20 countries criticized protectionism in a joint statement on Saturday, and vowed to reform World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, but did not detail what steps they would take to improve the food trade system. In the statement, they said they were “concerned about the increasing use […] Read more

G20 ag ministers slam protectionism, pledge WTO reforms

Smallest ag markets biggest winners in commodities rout
New York | Reuters –– Some of the smallest niche agricultural commodities were the biggest winners this year as weather and disease raised concerns about tightening supplies, spurring a buying spree as an exodus of institutional cash punished oil, metals and grains markets. Cocoa, cotton, sugar and frozen concentrated orange juice on ICE Futures U.S. […] Read more

Mustard growers relish price spike from supply squeeze
Reuters — From Canada to India, there is a squeeze on mustard that has put producers in a pickle. Prices of the yellow condiment dabbed on hot dogs and pretzels have leaped to their highest level in seven years this autumn as growers in Western Canada, which supplies three-quarters of the world’s traded mustard seed, […] Read more
Olam’s cocoa purchase raises supply, price volatility concerns
New York | Reuters –– Olam’s US$1.3 billion deal to buy rival Archer Daniels Midland’s cocoa processing business may reduce liquidity in the niche cocoa bean trade, raising concerns about volatile prices and a potential shake-up of customer relationships. In the biggest deal to roil the cocoa trade in recent years, Olam scooped up a […] Read more