Drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea this week, including strikes that sank at least one vessel off Bulgaria and Romania, have disrupted key grain export corridors and pushed Euronext front-month corn above €300/t for the first time, with wheat futures also firming. The incidents compound an already tight European grain balance marked by sharply reduced French corn output and historically low projected ending stocks for 2026/27.
Saudi dairy giant Almarai has presented its 2026–2031 growth strategy at its Capital Markets Day, outlining a USD 4 billion-plus investment programme focused on four priorities: strengthening core dairy and food categories, selective expansion into new categories, growth in foodservice and e-commerce channels, and expansion in priority markets across MENA and beyond.
A 2-megawatt solar energy project has been inaugurated at the Khairat Al-Shamal – Dajaj Al-Khair feed factory in Mafraq, Jordan, combining photovoltaic electricity generation with a PV-to-Heat system capable of producing up to 1.35 tonnes of industrial steam per hour, with the aim of reducing operating energy costs.
The US Department of Agriculture projects global vegetable oil exports will reach a record 141 million tonnes in 2026/27, driven by sharp gains in rapeseed and sunflower oil trade, while palm oil exports are expected to decline slightly.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council hosted three half-day seminars across Türkiye to address poultry and ruminant feed producer concerns over mycotoxins, antibiotic residues, and DDGS handling and storage, drawing 55 participants from 26 companies.
Senegalese poultry group Sedima is set to invest 20.47 billion CFA francs (US$35 million) in an integrated poultry and grain complex in Nkouo, Republic of Congo, targeting local corn, soybean and broiler production to reduce the country's dependence on imported feed and chicken.
BASF is considering a takeover of Evonik, one of Europe's key producers of animal-feed ingredients, as both German chemical groups face pressure from high energy costs and weak demand. Both companies have confirmed preliminary contact, though no agreement has been reached. Analysts estimate potential annual savings of around €700 million if the deal proceeds.
Persistent port congestion, container imbalances and route disruptions are keeping ocean freight costs elevated for agricultural shippers even as some trade lanes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal show signs of partial normalization, according to CMB News.
Wheat prices in the Rhine region are moving largely sideways heading into Q4 2026 and early 2027, with bread wheat quoted at 240 EUR/t for October–December and only a modest 4–5 EUR/t carry into Q1 2027. Corn and rapeseed are sending stronger price signals, with EU corn commanding a clear premium over feed wheat and rapeseed posting the steepest forward curve in the complex, drawing feed-sector attention away from wheat.
Nigeria's Ministry of Livestock Development is in discussions with UNIDO on technical cooperation to establish a digital livestock identification and traceability system, with potential applications in animal health monitoring, product certification, export market access and combating livestock theft.
Animal feed prices in Bangladesh have climbed nearly 7% since early August 2026, driven by sharp rises in corn, soybean meal and rice bran costs. Feed mills say they are still absorbing losses despite two price increases, while poultry farmers are cutting production and protests have erupted in several districts.
Skretting Vietnam has soft-launched a dedicated Aquaculture Feed Validation Farm designed to support structured feed research and product validation across fish and shrimp species, with potential reach across Southeast Asia and the company's global innovation network.
