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CHS grows STL capacity with new terminal deal

  • Spanish Market: Agriculture, Fertilizers, Freight
  • 08/01/25

US agribusiness CHS will increase its fertilizer product delivery capacity to farmers after securing an exclusive deal with an Ingram Barge subsidiary at its St Louis, Missouri, terminal ahead of this spring.

Ingram Barge subsidiary SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals will only move CHS product at its Municipal River Terminal in St Louis, allowing CHS access to more rail and barge shipments for distribution.

"This new pathway improves the efficiency and flexibility in our supply chain, so our farmers can have access to needed inputs, particularly during the busy growing season," CHS crop nutrients vice president Roger Baker said.

The CHS supply chain includes imports and the domestic distribution of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and sulfur fertilizers.

CHS is a global agribusiness with a portfolio that includes agronomy, grains and energy businesses that reached a revenue of $39bn for fiscal year 2024. Ingram Barge Company operates a fleet of 150 towboats and 5,100 barges that transports commodities across the US river system.


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05/02/25

Australian beef exports hit record high in January

Australian beef exports hit record high in January

Dalby, 5 February (Argus) — Australian beef exports hit a record high in January, with volumes of chilled and frozen beef surpassing the previous high set in January 2020, the Australian Department of Agriculture said. Beef exports reached 81,049t in January 2025, a rise from 75,585t in January 2024 and slightly more than the previous high of 79,221t exported in January 2020. This comes on the back of strong exports in December 2024. Processors typically engage in capacity rebuilding in January after the Christmas holiday break for abattoir staff. Throughput is typically weighed down by weaker cattle availability across northern Australia over the monsoon season in November-April. But exports in January 2025 remained strong despite the challenges, with processing throughput reaching a high of 140,908 heads in the week to 24 January. Exporters took advantage of robust global prices and the availability of cattle because of dry conditions in southern Australia and a late wet season across Queensland and the Northern Territory. The majority of exports in January were sent to the US, accounting for 24,685t or 30pc of total global exports. This is a rise from the 20,308t the US imported in January 2024. Imports to the west coast ports of the US more than doubled compared with a year earlier, reaching 7,112t. Demand from the US was strong, particularly the demand for lean trim, as a result of a domestic production shortage caused by a declining cattle herd. This has pushed up prices for Australian lean trim, with prices for 85CL nearing A$9.50/kg and Bull 95CL surpassing A$10.50/kg, Argus data show. Demand and prices will likely remain steady throughout 2025 because the US cattle herd has yet to begin rebuilding, market participants said. Exports of chilled and frozen beef to Japan and Korea have slightly decreased on the year in January to 15,806t and 10,596t respectively, down by less than 10pc from a year earlier. Higher prices for fatty trim, coupled with weaker local economies, have weighed on Asian demand for Australian beef. But imports to China rose in January 2025 compared with a year earlier, with 15,315t shipped for the month after active buying in December. Exports to other countries including the EU, Canada, Thailand and Dubai also increased in January 2025 compared with a year earlier, on the back of record high volumes of beef production in Australia in 2024. By Amy Phillips Australian beef exports (t) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU maritime emissions continue to rise: EMSA


04/02/25
04/02/25

EU maritime emissions continue to rise: EMSA

London, 4 February (Argus) — Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the EU's maritime sector have continued to rise since 2015, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) found in its 2025 environmental report, although "promising progress" has been made in some areas. Maritime activity was responsible for 26pc of methane emissions and 39pc of NOx emissions in the EU transport sector in 2022, as well as for 14.2pc of CO2 emissions from the sector, the report said. Methane emissions from maritime "at least doubled" from 2018-23, the report found, pushed up by growth in the LNG fleet. NOx emissions rose by 10pc from 2015-23, while CO2 emissions totalled 137mn t in 2022, having risen by 8.5pc from a year earlier. But sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions fell by approximately 70pc in 2023 compared with 2014 levels, EMSA said. This was driven mainly by the implementation of Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) in the Baltic and North seas, while the tightening of maximum sulphur levels in marine fuel in 2020 further contributed to the fall in SOx emissions. EMSA expects SOx emissions to drop further once a SECA is established in the Mediterranean Sea. And the northeast Atlantic countries may set up an emission control area by 2027. Biofuels are an "immediate, attractive and cost-effective solution" to cutting GHG emissions in the maritime sector, EMSA said. And synthetic and other drop-in fuels, which can be blended with fossil fuels, could help the shipping sector transition to lower emissions. But their costs could prove an obstacle because they are still "significantly higher" than for marine fossil fuels, the report said. Further electrification of ships could assist in decarbonising short-range waterborne transport, the report said. And the establishment of green shipping corridors — zero-emission maritime routes — could further encourage investment in sustainable fuels and supply chains, EMSA added. The EU emissions trading system-financed Innovation Fund has already supported more than 300 shipping projects, the report said, with funding to be deployed out to 2030. By Navneet Vyasan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Tariffs not only US threat to Canada canola oil


04/02/25
04/02/25

Tariffs not only US threat to Canada canola oil

New York, 4 February (Argus) — Canadian canola farmers have reason to celebrate a last-minute deal to at least delay US tariffs. Changing US biofuel policies, however, could dim their excitement. The two countries agreed Monday to pause for a month 25pc tariffs on most Canadian imports, including agricultural products like canola oil. While best known for its use in food, canola oil has become an increasingly important ingredient in US biofuel production. Canada exported 800,000 lbs of crude canola oil to the US in 2021, before US regulators allowed more canola-based fuels to qualify for a biofuel mandate, but more than three times that total over just 11 months in 2024 according to customs data. Canola oil from all origins made up around 12pc of the US biomass-based diesel feedstock mix last year. The challenge for Canada is that policies in the US that helped cement canola oil's role in biofuel production are increasingly encouraging producers to use other feedstocks. The mere threat of tariffs could speed that trend along. A long-running US tax credit for blenders of biomass-based diesel expired last year and was replaced by the Inflation Reduction Act's "45Z" credit, which requires fuels to meet an initial carbon intensity threshold and then ups the subsidy as emissions fall. This shift was always expected to benefit waste feedstocks over crops, which incur a carbon penalty for land changes and fertilizer use. The clear message to refiners — both from the US government and from California regulators that run the state's influential low-carbon fuel standard — has been to diversify beyond vegetable oils. But an updated emissions model released by the Department of Energy last month surprised some in the industry by assessing the default carbon intensity of canola-based fuels as too high to automatically qualify for 45Z. Although fuels from soybean oil generally earn some credit, diesels made from canola oil could go from earning $1/USG last year to nothing this year. Before even factoring in potential tariffs, Canadian canola oil appears less attractive for refiners than even competing crops. Guidance on 45Z is preliminary , meaning canola crushers can push for final rules that are less restrictive. But energy lobbyists say privately that they do not expect the new administration to act with urgency to implement an incentive created by Democratic lawmakers and oriented around climate change. And many Republicans' concern with the credit is not that it is too harsh on canola — but that it is too permissive of foreign feedstocks they see as hurting US crop demand. The introduction of 45Z could simultaneously leave Canadian biofuel producers less able to backfill canola oil demand if US buyers look elsewhere. The credit can only be claimed by US producers, cutting off subsidies for imported fuels. At the same time, 45Z does not require fuel to be consumed stateside — meaning that US biorefineries can send subsidized fuel abroad to chase additional incentives Canada offers for biofuel usage. "The on-again off-again status of US tariffs and Canada's counter-tariff response do not alter the bare economics of biofuel production between jurisdictions when one has an exportable tax credit and the other does not," said Fred Ghatala, president of Advanced Biofuels Canada. The future of renewable diesel production in Canada, previously expected to grow significantly to the benefit of farmers, is in doubt. ExxonMobil's Canadian subsidiary is on track to open a 20,000 b/d renewable diesel plant this year, but other companies collectively representing more production capacity are wavering. Plans for an integrated canola crush and 15,000 b/d renewable diesel facility in Saskatchewan were paused last month. And it is unclear if Braya Renewable Fuels' 18,000 b/d biorefinery in Newfoundland is running now or if Tidewater Renewables' 3,000 b/d British Columbia plant will run after March. If demand from Canadian biorefineries remains limited, some traders expect that Trump's tariff threats could divert more canola oil previously bound for the US to Europe . But there is no perfect alternative to the US market, which accounted for 91pc of all Canadian canola oil exports in 2023 according to the US Department of Agriculture. "There is logistics capacity to sell canola oil, seed, or meal abroad. That's certainly an option," said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. "The best option though is to continue to maintain and grow our trade relationship with our most important trade partner, which is the United States." By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over sulphur price in February


04/02/25
04/02/25

Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over sulphur price in February

London, 4 February (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc set its February official sulphur selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $174/t fob Ruwais, stable from its January OSP. Adnoc's February OSP implies a delivered price of $190-191/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India last assessed at $16-17/t on 30 January. The announced OSP fob price rose by $105/t from $69/t fob Ruwais in February 2024. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

No Trump tariff exemption on Canadian potash: Update


03/02/25
03/02/25

No Trump tariff exemption on Canadian potash: Update

Updates with 1 month delay on tariffs. London, 3 February (Argus) — US president Donald Trump will allow a one month pause before imposing a 25pc tariff on non-energy imports — including potash — from Canada. Trump signed executive orders on 1 February that will impose the levy on all US imports from Canada, although energy imports will have a lower 10pc tariff. Plans for the tariffs were announced in November, when Trump won the US presidential election, but most market participants did not expect them to be implemented, or expected that potash could be exempt, given that the US relies heavily on Canadian product. Most sources believed that the threat of tariffs was largely a bargaining tool related to border security. US fertilizer industry association The Fertilizer Institute said last week that there was not enough certainty as to whether or not the tariffs would be implemented, but if enacted would be counter to Trump's promise during his election campaign to lower grocery prices. Following the issuing of the executive order, TFI said it is ready to collaborate with the Trump administration to spur fertilizer industry growth. The US has limited domestic MOP production and over 80pc of its potash needs are sourced from Canada, around 9mn-10mn t/yr of MOP. No other major potash import market relies so heavily on one source. The US also stopped taking MOP from Belarus in 2022 following sanctions, and the lack of Canadian MOP should only further limit supply options. What does this mean for the US potash market? The tariff will no doubt raise prices in the US. MOP prices at New Orleans (Nola) and across the Corn Belt have already edged higher in recent weeks because of concerns related to potential tariffs. Nutrien increased its post-winter fill potash offers on 28 January by $25/st to $340/st fot across US midcontinent warehouses, while river terminals rose to $335/st fob. Granular MOP fob Nola values have also risen, from $255/st at the start of the year to $265/st on 30 January, compared with $322.50/st fob in January 2024. Argus calculates that the tariff will add an average premium of around $60/t at the US-Canada border but it is uncertain how much of this cost will be passed onto the buyer, or how much will be swallowed by the producer. Regardless, the higher cost of Canadian potash will likely significantly reduce the volume purchased from Canada and push US buyers to turn to alternative suppliers, which may be cheaper. But the US will not be able to replace all of the 9mn-10mn t/yr of potash that the country needs. Prices for imported MOP may also benefit from an uptick in the price of Canadian potash, as other suppliers may raise prices to narrow the premium that Canada holds, while ensuring that they still remain competitive. For the upcoming spring application season in the US, there is likely to be limited effect as domestic supply is robust and suppliers have positioned stocks accordingly, but whether the tariff will still be in place when fall demand is anticipated is difficult to predict. How will this affect Canadian exports? If the US takes less potash from Canada, the country will have no option but to push more volume for offshore exports. Canada exports around 22mn t/yr of MOP, the bulk of which is handled by Canpotex, which markets product from Nutrien and Mosaic. Germany-based K+S also exports MOP from its Bethune mine in Saskatchewan. Canada typically exports around 11mn-12.5mn t/yr of MOP via Vancouver on the west coast, and Thunder Bay and Saint John's on the east coast. The maximum volume exported from these three ports in a year is around 14mn-15mn t. Another 3mn t can be moved via Portland in the US, which will be unaffected by the tariffs. But the Canadian rail system has reduced capacity to switch to ports and the export infrastructure will likely see bottlenecks, especially as all commodities will be affected, not just potash, which means that all products will be seeking alternative markets other than the US, and the only other option is to export. Higher pricing in the US could entice other suppliers to bring more to the US, diverting product away from key market Brazil. Potash suppliers often switch between the US and Brazil, depending on which market is paying a premium. But most imports into the US come through Nola, which is far from the main MOP consuming regions further north in the Corn Belt. It is clear that the US needs Canadian potash to meet typical US application levels, and that Canada needs the US as an outlet. There remains uncertainty over how long these tariffs will last and under what conditions they might be lifted. Although there appears to be a case for potash to receive an exemption from the executive order, nothing has been said to this effect by the Trump administration. In response to Trump's tariff executive order, the Canadian government announced its own 25pc tariff on more than $100bn of US imports. By Julia Campbell and Taylor Zavala Canada MOP exports to US ’000t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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