SovEcon: Russian and global grain market news – August 19, 2025

Daily news and market insights from a leading firm focused on the Black Sea grain markets research

Grain futures were mostly flat on Monday. The December SRW wheat contract closed at $5.25/bu ($193/mt; -0.4% from Friday). The December HRW wheat contract in Kansas held at $5.28/bu ($194/mt; unchanged). The December Euronext wheat contract settled at €195.50/mt ($228/mt; +0.1%). The December US corn contract rose to $4.06/bu ($160/mt; +0.3%).

Egypt’s state grain buyer Mostakbal Misr agreed to purchase at least 200 tmt of French wheat in recent private deals with exporters, along with several 30 tmt cargoes from Ukraine and Romania. Traders said Mostakbal Misr may have booked up to seven Panamax vessels of French wheat—more than 400 tmt—over the past two weeks.

The Egyptian government purchased nearly 4 mmt of wheat on the domestic market, up from 3.43 mmt last year, according to the country’s Agriculture Ministry.

As of August 17, 71% of U.S. corn was rated in good or excellent condition, compared with 72% a week earlier and 67% a year ago, the USDA said. Winter wheat harvest was 94% complete, down from 96% last year and 95% on average. Spring wheat harvest was 36% complete, in line with the five-year average and up from 29% last year.

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