Durum demand could be as soggy as a wet spaghetti noodle this year based on good crop conditions in key growing regions. “Winter cereals are reaching maturity under good conditions and remote sensing indicators corroborate a very good winter crop season,” the monitor said in a May 22 report. Algeria received “abundant” rains in April prior to flowering, improving the yield outlook for winter crops. The crop monitor is forecasting average durum yields for the EU of 53 bushels per acre, which is five percent above the five-year average. New crop harvest prices are lower than the nearby prices, suggesting that buyers are not in “search mode” for durum.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 07, 2018 22:41 UTC