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The record soybean harvest is slowed by the backlog of trucks at Brazil River port
The logistics of one of the main export hubs in the world for soybeans are being overwhelmed by a record harvest. Backlogs for soybeans being moved from the world's biggest producer and exporter highlight ongoing logistical challenges in Brazil's agriculture supply chain. A large portion of Brazil's soybean harvest is headed for China. It's a shame here in Miritituba," said trucker Jeferson Borges da Silva who, after driving 1,200km from Mato Grosso waited for a?30 km (20 mile) queue. "We have been waiting in line for 2 days, this was the worst year yet." Miritituba is a crucial transshipment point that handles 12 million metric tonnes of grains per year, including corn and soy. Cargill, Bunge and Brazil's Amaggi operate river terminals, where crops are loaded on barges to be transported downstream to larger facilities that can fill ocean-going ships. This time of year, traffic is usually heavy. PROTESTS COMPOUND EXPORT CHAOS Indigenous activists invaded a Cargill Transshipment Facility in?Santarem in protest this month against the government's policy to dredge the Amazon basin and expand the shipping capacity. The government rescinded a decree that allowed for such expansions of waterways on Monday, causing further uncertainty to agricultural exporters. Wellington Bressan, a trucker from Miritituba, said that the Indigenous protests could have contributed to the traffic jam in Miritituba because drivers were rushing to get unloading spaces. "Truckers are paid on commission. If they work, then they earn money. They didn't want to wait to come to Miritituba. Cargill temporarily halted its Santarem Terminal during the protests. On Thursday, it said that they are working to resume their activities. The company issued a statement thanking employees for their "resilience." It also reiterated that it was committed to transporting food in a "safe and reliable" manner. CONCERNS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE MOUNT Thiago Pera is a logistics expert from the University of Sao Paulo. He said that the revocation of the?government decree could slow down efforts to improve the logistical infrastructure along the northern export corridor. He warned of the medium- and long term impacts on Brazil's capacity to handle agricultural exports efficiently. Pera stated that the situation is getting more difficult. He added that dredging could be done to allow larger vessels to move year-round. This would ease pressure on trucks and lower freight costs. About 60% of Brazilian agricultural exports are transported by truck. Truckers such as Sonia?da? Silva expressed frustration at the outdated infrastructure of Miritituba terminals. "How will you fit 1,000 trucks into a yard with only 500 or 200 spaces?" She asked.
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South Korea's MFG purchases about 135,000 tonnes of corn, traders claim
European traders reported that the 'Major Feedmill Group' (MFG) of South Korea purchased approximately 135,000 metric tonnes of 'animal feed corn on Friday in an international tender that sought up to?to?210,000 tons. Two consignments were purchased at the end of the tender. A third consignment, also requested in the tender, was not believed to be purchased after negotiations. It was possible to source corn from South America, the United States or Africa. A 67,000-ton consignment was purchased for an estimated cost and freight of $251.23 per ton plus a $1.50 surcharge per ton to cover additional port unloading. It was thought that the seller, trading house Mitsui had corn arriving in South Korea on or around July 1. A second 68,000-ton?consignment? was purchased for?an estimated $25.55 per ton C&F plus a $1.50 surcharge per ton to cover additional port unloading. Cargill is believed to have been the seller, and corn arrived in South Korea on or around July 10. The reports reflect the assessments of traders, and it is possible to estimate prices and volumes later. First consignment to arrive around July 1 is sought to be shipped between May 23 to June 11?if it comes from the U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast, May 3 to May 22?from the U.S. Gulf or April 28 to may 17?from South America, or from May 13 to?June 1, if it comes from South Africa. The second shipment for arrival around July 10 is to be shipped between June 1 and 20 if it comes from the U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast, or from May 12 to May 31, if coming from the U.S. Gulf. It can also come from South America, from May 7 to 26 if from South America, or from May 22 to 10 if coming from South Africa. Reporting by Michael Hogan, Hamburg Editing David Goodman
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Sources say that Druzhba Pipeline carried Ukrainian and Russian oil prior to the attack.
Three industry sources said that the Druzhba Pipeline exported some Ukrainian crude oil as well as much higher volumes of Russian crude before it was damaged by a Russian strike a month earlier. This has caused a halt in supply. Since?January 27, oil shipments from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended. This follows what Kyiv claims was a Russian attack on pumping stations in western Ukraine. This sparked a dispute with the European Union, and led to a rift between Hungary and the EU. It was not previously known that the Druzhba Pipeline is used to export Ukrainian Oil to EU member Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine is denied the export revenue and funds it needs to control its budget deficit. If the suspension is maintained, it could force Kyiv's oil production to cease. The Ukrainian energy ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Ukraine has been encrypting all information about oil exports and processing since the Russian invasion of four years ago. RUSSIA TARGETS UKRAINE’S OIL PRODUCTION Ukraine will produce about 1.7 millions tons of oil by 2021. The country imported large volumes of oil that were refined at the Kremenchuk Refinery, which has a 19 million ton capacity per year. In February 2022, Russia started attacking Ukraine's petrochemical refineries. One source said that the destruction of Ukraine's last refinery capacity by mid-2025 forced traders and fuel importers to increase their fuel imports. It also created a dilemma about what to do with Ukraine’s oil production. Source: Druzhba is the only option available because Ukraine has no refining capability. State Property Fund owns the section of the Ukrainian pipeline network. It was not possible to determine the current level of production in Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported in 2024 that Ukraine's largest oil firm Ukrnafta would produce 1.4 million tons of oil. This is roughly the same amount as it produced in 2023. According to a second source in the industry, Ukraine injected 40,000 metric tonnes of oil per month into the Druzhba Pipeline before Russia's strike. Other sources confirmed that there was exporting but didn't provide an estimate of the volume. The three sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject. According to a second source, Ukraine injected crude oil in the pipeline at Brody in the west of Ukraine for Europe several months before the Russian attack on January. MOL, a multinational oil company based in Hungary, processes the oil delivered through pipelines. MOL didn't immediately respond to our request for comment about whether or not it received Ukrainian oil through pipelines and what volume. On Friday, the Hungarian and Slovakian governments did not immediately reply to comments. Hungary and Slovakia, while other EU countries stopped using Russian oil have continued to rely on it. They have also accused Ukraine of purposefully prolonging the?pipeline outage. Hungary has also accused Ukraine of meddling with its elections in April, it has stalled the 90 billion euro EU loan Kyiv depends on, and it has blocked new European sanctions against Russia. A PIPELINE THAT WAS ONCE ONE OF THE LONGEST IN THE WORLD HAS LOST IMPORTANCE The southern branch of Druzhba was constructed in the 1960s, during the Soviet period. It is where the majority of oil from Russia has been transported to Central Europe. The name of the pipeline means friendship in English. Moscow accused Kyiv that it was threatening "Europe's energy safety" by preventing Russian oil from flowing through the pipeline. Druzhba, one of the world's largest pipelines, has lost its importance since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Expro, a Kyiv-based oil consulting firm, said that transit through the southern branch reached a low of 9.7 million tonnes in 2025. ExPro reported that Slovakia received 4.9 millions tons of oil while Hungary received 4.35 million tonnes. The Czech Republic stopped using Russian oil by April 2025. The northern leg, which was the main supply route for Poland, is only using a fraction of its capacity in order to transport Kazakh oil to Germany. Ukraine has been planning to use the Druzhba pipeline to pump Caspian Oil to Europe for years. It completed the construction of the Odesa-Brody Pipeline in 2002 to connect Black Sea Oil Terminals with Druzhba. However, since then, this pipeline has?carried very little oil. On Wednesday, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that this section was also attacked by the war. Brussels has not taken sides in the Druzhba dispute, but has asked the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban respect the EU loan agreement for Ukraine. It also plans to submit on April 15 a legal proposal that would permanently ban Russian oil imports. Slovakia announced that the Druzhba Pipeline was out of service on February 13th, long after Russian oil shipments were stopped last month. Reporting by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Daniel Flynn
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Hungary and Slovakia are interested in forming a joint team to examine damage caused by the Druzhba Pipeline in Ukraine
Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to establish a joint committee on Friday, to investigate damage to the Druzhba Pipeline in Ukraine. They also called on Kyiv for access to allow them to restart Russian oil flow. Hungary and Slovakia, the only European Union nations still importing Russian crude oil, were forced to stop receiving supplies via Druzhba on January 27. Both countries had to find alternative sources of supply and use state reserves. Ukraine wants Europe to stop purchasing Russian fuel. It says that a Russian drone struck the pipeline and they are making repairs as quickly as possible. Hungary and Slovakia have blamed Kyiv?and its President Volodymyr?Zelenskiy for this prolonged outage. This is one of the largest disputes between neighbours since Russia invaded?Ukraine on a full-scale four years ago. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, said in a video posted on Facebook Friday that Kyiv has stopped oil flow for political reasons. He added that he and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico have agreed to form an "investigative panel to determine?the condition" of this pipeline. Orban stated that he "calls on President Zelenskiy" to allow the committee access and provide the conditions for their work. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not comment immediately. FICO SPEAKS WITH ZELENSKIY Although the interruption has not affected domestic supplies, Hungary and Slovakia had to find alternative sources of crude and release it from strategic reserves. The Hungarian oil company MOL which operates Slovakia's Slovnaft Refinery has ordered tankers to carry Saudi, Norwegian and Kazakh oil, as well as Russian oil. Fico said at a separate press conference in Slovakia that the countries will propose the committee to European Commission. He added that he was concerned Brussels would prioritize the interests of Ukraine over those EU members Slovakia and Hungary. Fico stated that "we have a right to?this?oil". Hungary and Slovakia have been at odds with Kyiv for years over Russian energy transiting Ukrainian territory. They also oppose EU military aid to?Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Commission stated that Ukraine is ready to speed up repairs?to Druzhba. Zelenskiy, however, said that repairs would not be completed in a short time. Fico, who warned of additional countermeasures following Slovakia's decision to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, was scheduled to meet Zelenskiy on Friday. Orban who is facing an April election and has made the war the central theme of his campaign, asked on Thursday for the European Council to send a "fact finding mission" to assess damage. He suggested that this could help unlock new EU funding for Ukraine. Anita Komuves reported from Budapest, and Jason Hovet from Prague. Mark Potter is the editor.
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JPMorgan makes money on the Chinese Yuan rally
JPMorgan analysts announced that they would be closing their long-term offshore Chinese yuan positions after the central bank of the country lowered the cost to buy dollar forwards in an effort to curb the recent yuan rally. From March 2, the 'People's Bank of China' will reduce from 20% to zero the amount that banks and financial institutions must reserve for risk when they purchase foreign currency via currency forwards. After the announcement the offshore yuan, which has increased 7.5% in value against the dollar from the start of 2025, fell more than 100 pip and slipped?past $6.85 per dollar. JPMorgan analysts stated in a research note that they had been holding CNH longs for a while. They then decided to take 'profits on their CNH/SGD longs (offshore dollar versus Singapore yuan) positions. The new rule (risk reserves) should encourage an increase in dollar purchases from onshore investors through?FX futures, which has been falling significantly since 2022. They added the "earlier-than-expected move" reinforced the view that the yuan's rise had "probably gone a bit further than what the PBOC is comfortable with". This has also led to concerns that the bullish momentum of the yuan may be running out of steam in the short term. Since early November, the offshore yuan is up around 4.2%. China's currency is available in two different forms: onshore CNY (the restricted mainland Chinese version) and offshore CNH (the freely traded version). JPMorgan analysts said that despite the shift in strategy, they still had a "bullish bias for the medium-term CNY FX", predicting international investors would continue to buy Chinese stocks and Chinese corporations to continue'selling dollars. They said that if this scenario played out, it could have a negative impact on their medium-term USD/CNY target. We would therefore be inclined to take outright CNY long positions, if/when the levels are more favorable. Marc Jones is the reporter. Mark Potter (Editing)
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After a snowstorm, Lufthansa and Munich Airport have pledged to revamp emergency protocols
Munich Airport and Lufthansa pledged on Friday to overhaul 'emergency protocols' following the stranding?of?around 600?passengers?on six planes?during a snowstorm last week. Heiko Reitz, Lufthansa Hub Manager for Munich Airport, said during a joint press conference in Munich: "We made mistakes that evening and we all take responsibility." Airport and airline apologized for what they called an "unacceptable incident" and announced new?measures to prevent a repeat. Shortfalls in operational efficiency on?Feb. The 19th, including the?lack terminal space, stretched buses capacity, and staff shortfalls amid a night curfew were cited as major factors that caused passenger transfers to be delayed. Crews provided few updates to passengers as they sat on aircrafts for hours with little food or blankets. Lufthansa began contacting travellers the following day to process compensation claims. Local politicians demanded accountability and warned that the incident could damage Munich's reputation as a?transit?hub. Lufthansa, Munich Airport and other stakeholders have pledged to enhance coordination and preparedness for future disruptions. (Reporting and editing by Christina Amann & Kirsti Knolle)
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Ukraine could form joint ventures to enhance its defenses against ballistic weapons with allies
Ukraine's defence minister has said that it is looking at forming consortia to help overcome a critical munitions shortage for U.S. made Patriot systems. Ukraine has been able to protect its skies from Russian ballistic missiles that fly faster than?sound speed and can't be intercepted using Ukraine's other air defence systems. Mykhailo Federorov, the Defence Minister, said that stocks of Patriot System's PAC-3 pac-3 missiles are "critically low". Fedorov told reporters this week that Ukraine has the potential to produce missiles and counter-ballistic systems independently. He also said that air defences have been his primary focus since he assumed office in mid January. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized delays in providing Patriot missiles as well as other air defences to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022. He also said that several?systems ran out of ammunition at one time in January. Fedorov claimed that he had discussed the idea of joint air defense ventures with Zelenskiy. Could not determine if discussions had already taken place with allies, or which of Kyiv's allies it has in mind. "This is a complex?project that requires time and dedication. The mathematics are complicated." Fedorov stated that Ukraine must develop their own capabilities. Max Hunder is the reporter, Daniel Flynn is the editor and Timothy Heritage is the writer.
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Developer: US granted permit to project to bring electricity to Puerto Rico from Dominican Republic
The U.S. Department of Energy granted a permit to a $2.5 Billion?power project that will send electricity from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, according to the company in charge of the development. They added that this would be the Caribbean’s first cross-border energy facility. Puerto Rico is?plagued by widespread power outages? since Hurricane Maria, one of America's deadliest storms, decimated its electrical grid almost a decade ago. Rafael Velez, President of the Puerto Rico-based Atabey Capital investment firm, the principal investor and founding investor for the project developer, said: "We are extremely excited to receive the presidential permit." It's the first time the project has been given the green light in terms of permits. Project Hostos is being developed by the Caribbean?Transmission & Development Company, which will receive private funding. A 500-megawatt natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant is being built in San Pedro de Macoris as part of the?Project Hostos. The generating station would send power via three different power lines. A 90-kilometer cable will run from the plant to the coast, and a 150-kilometer submarine cable that spans the Mona Passage connecting the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico. The 6-kilometer cable will run from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to connect with the Puerto Rico grid. It is mostly underground. The project will be able provide enough electricity for approximately?600,000.00 homes in Puerto Rico or more than a third of the island’s residents. Velez stated that the project is expected to start in 2031. The Department of Energy granted the presidential permit to CTDC for the cross border portion of the project. This allowed CTDC to move forward with other permits, and an agreement on power purchase with the main Puerto Rico utility. In 2017, storms, including Maria, killed 3,000 people. They also destroyed large areas of the island's infrastructure. Some parts of the island were without power for almost a year. Velez said that he hopes Project 'Hostos' will boost the economic activity of Puerto Rico by stabilizing its 'power system'. He said, "In Puerto Rico you cannot discuss economic development without electricity." "What we experienced with Maria - months without electricity - was like being back in the Stone Ages." Reporting by Laila K. Kearney, New York. Editing by David Gregorio
Maguire: Africa is primed for solar breakthrough following record capacity growth
Africa is set to become a major driver of solar energy production in the world over the next decade, thanks to a powerful mix of policy support and rapid economic growth.
According to the Global Solar Council Africa installed a record of 4.5 gigawatts PV solar power in 2025. This was a 54% increase from?the previous year.
Eight countries have added more than 100 megawatts of solar power in the last year. This is double the number that will be at this threshold by 2024. It shows the growing appeal of solar energy systems on the continent.
Last year, African nations increased their collective imports in battery energy storage systems to make sure that utilities, homes and businesses can access solar power after dark.
From South Africa to Egypt, ambitious clean energy policies are likely to encourage a wider adoption of solar and batteries systems. This will help Africa become a major growth area for solar systems in 2030 and beyond.
GROWTH DRIVERS
South Africa is likely to have the largest solar footprint in Africa. This will be just over 10 GW after a 1.6GW increase in capacity in 2025.
According to the latest Integrated Resource Plan, around 10 GW new solar PV capacity will be installed by 2030. This includes 8.5 GW battery storage as well as around 5 GW distributed solar.
The majority of those figures are attainable with the current rate of installation, but grid bottlenecks and stunted investments in the overstretched national distribution networks will remain the main challenges for power developers.
North African nations such as Egypt, Algeria and Morocco, Tunisia and Tunisia, are among the fastest-growing solar markets outside of South Africa. They will add an additional 1.1GW between them in 2025.
North Africa is home to some of the largest utility-scale projects in the world. It has the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, as well as vast expanses of undeveloped land.
According to Global Energy Monitor, Egypt is North Africa’s leader in the development of solar power projects. It has around 5.5 gigawatts (GW) in construction and another 13 GW that are in pre-construction.
Tunisia and Libya have committed to large pipelines of solar energy development, which will help in the efforts to develop skilled workers tied to clean-energy development and maintenance.
Nigeria, which installed a record 803 MW of solar power in 2025, was also a prominent developer. Meanwhile, large solar projects are currently being built in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Ghana.
POLICY HELP
Solar assets in Africa are gaining more traction thanks to a number of country-level initiatives that aim to drive demand for renewable energy.
Nigeria, one of Africa's fastest growing economies, has approved new net-metering legislation that allows households and businesses the ability to offset their power bills by using rooftop solar installations.
New building codes in Kenya require that solar installations be installed. Aluminium mounting systems for solar panels will also soon be exempted from import duties.
Ethiopia also received funding to upgrade its grid in order to support renewable energy projects. Botswana has implemented new rules for the domestic energy markets that are expected boost the appeal of solar projects.
Tracking Potential
Africa's growing appetite for solar products comes at a time when several major markets, including those in Europe and other parts of the world, are reaching saturation after years of rapid expansion.
The trade war is a boon for solar panel exporters, mainly Chinese firms. They are locked out of U.S. markets and must find new markets where they can sell.
Data from the energy think tank Ember show that in 2025 African nations will have purchased a record amount of solar modules from China, totaling $2 billion. This represents a 36% rise from a year earlier.
African nations have also purchased $2.6 billion in battery systems made by China, which is a significant increase year-over-year and has helped Chinese vendors expand their service footprint on the continent.
African consumers can take advantage of the lower prices of solar components and batteries in 2026, and beyond. This is especially true in areas where tax breaks are available on imported goods and renewable energy has a favourable price.
This will help Africa's momentum in solar energy to pick up steam over the next decade and establish the region as a key player in the energy transition by 2030.
These are the opinions of a columnist who writes for.
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(source: Reuters)