-Multiple Chinese crush plants forced to close due to emissions controls
-China low sow herd targets
-EU rapeseed area expected to sharply increase
-Ukraine winter wheat planting strong with favorable conditions
-Argentine corn planting solid with favorable conditions
 USDA’s quarterly Grain Stocks report and Small Grains Annual Summary report will be out next Thursday. Our pre-report commentary/analysis will be posted on Market Insights later today.
ï‚· China has reportedly stepped up enforcement of emissions curbs on a variety of industries across the country, restricting power loads to multiple major energy consumers. Among them have been a number of soybean crush plants leading to at 20 plants having to cease operations this week, including a Louis Dreyfus plant in Tianjin with a daily crushing capacity of 4k tonnes. With the closures, domestic soybean meal prices have been moving sharply higher in recent days.
 China lowered the sow herd target in the just-started latest Five-Year Plan to 37-41 million head for 2021-2025 from previous guidelines to maintain a herd of 40-43 million head as they adjust to continued depressed hog prices following the strong rebound in hog production following the devastating African swine fever epidemic in recent years. At the end of June, China’s sow herd was at 45.6 million head, up more than 25% from year ago levels and even 2% higher than pre-ASF levels in 2017. China will keep records on all hog operations that send more than 500 animals to slaughter annually as part of the monitoring process to maintain desired herd levels.
ï‚· The two largest rapeseed-producing countries in the EU, France and Germany, are expected to see notable increases in planted area for the 2022/23 crop given the current strong price structure. Specifically, French area could be up 15-20%, with German area rising 10% according to local estimates.
 China sold only 10.5k tonnes of the roughly 115k tonnes (9%) of imported GMO corn (U.S.) offered at this week’s state reserve auction while no offers were made for the 12k tonnes of non-GMO corn (Ukraine) also offered.
 Ukraine’s winter wheat planting for the 2022/23 crop is 18% complete, with favorable conditions across most of the country according to the state-run weather agency. Winter wheat area is expected to be nearly 10% this year.
ï‚· China has reportedly bought around 2 MMT of Australian wheat so far, out of the total 5 MMT in sales made for the current crop which will be harvested Nov-Dec, as they seek high quality supplies following the problems with several North American growers this year. They have reportedly also canceled several cargoes of French wheat given the quality issues there this year.
 Argentine corn planting is off to a good start according to the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange, thanks to favorable early soil moisture conditions, with 9% of the crop planted. While behind last year’s 16% pace, it is in line with the most-recent 5-year average. The exchange said recent rainfall has benefited the wheat crop with 76% currently seeing good to excellent conditions.
ï‚· Pakistan reported bought 575k tonnes of wheat following their recent tender for 500k tonnes, with all believed to be priced at $383.50/tonne c&f for Nov-Dec shipment periods. The have another open tender for 640k tonnes, as well, which closes Sept 29.
 Bulgaria’s ag ministry reported this year’s wheat crop jumped to 7.2 MMT from last year’s drought-afflicted 4.6 MMT and was above 2019’s 6.2 MMT.