China Digs in its Heels, Axes Purchases from Boeing

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0:00 China Digs In
2:27 US Crop Progress
5:05 Futures Industry Consolidation
9:12 Bayer to Ditch Roundup?
10:37 Russian Wheat Prices Dip
11:36 Grain Shipments
12:41 Corn Sale to Japan

China Orders Halt on US Aircraft Purchases ✈️🇨🇳
China has ordered its airlines to stop purchasing jets, parts, and equipment from US company Boeing and other US manufacturers, escalating the trade war. This follows China's retaliatory tariffs on US imports. Despite this, hundreds of Boeing planes in China will still require maintenance and repair. 🌍⚙️

US Corn Planting Progress Lagging 🌽⏳
US corn planting is slightly behind schedule, with 4% of the crop in the ground compared to 5% on average. Planting delays are particularly noticeable in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Soybean planting is also behind, with 2% planted nationally, on track with the five-year average. 🌾📊

Winter Wheat Ratings Remain Strong 🌾💪
Winter wheat is rated 47% good-excellent, a slight improvement from last week. However, the rating is down from last year’s 55%. The crop is progressing well, with 8% of the crop already headed. Spring wheat planting is ahead of average, with 7% completed. 🌱🌾

StoneX Acquires R.J. O’Brien 🏦💼
StoneX has acquired R.J. O'Brien & Associates for $900 million, marking a significant move in the futures brokerage industry. The deal will increase StoneX's client base and expand its global reach. The acquisition is expected to close in Q3 2024, and StoneX stock rose 4.7% following the announcement. 📈💸

Roundup Weedkiller Facing Legal and Production Challenges ⚖️💥
Bayer is considering halting production of Roundup due to ongoing lawsuits claiming the product causes cancer. With 67,000 claims pending, the future of glyphosate, a key herbicide used in US agriculture, remains uncertain. Farmers may face higher costs and reliance on imported or alternative herbicides. 🌾🚜

Russian Wheat Exports Up Despite Weather Concerns 🌾❄️
Russia's wheat prices declined last week due to improved weather conditions, though analysts warn that conditions remain volatile. Wheat exports increased by 7% week-over-week, with April export forecasts raised to 1.9 million metric tons. 🌍📉

US Corn Shipments Surge 🚢🌽
US corn shipments surged last week, with 1.8 million metric tons (72 million bushels) inspected for export. This is a 13% increase from the prior week and 34% higher than the same week last year. Soybean shipments declined slightly but were still up 22% compared to last year. 🚢🌾

Flash Sale of Corn to Japan 🌽🇯🇵
US exporters sold 120,000 metric tons (5 million bushels) of corn to Japan for delivery during the 2024/2025 marketing year, adding to the momentum of this year’s corn sales. Accumulated sales are up 25% compared to last year. 📊🌽