The decision announced by the prime minister to reinstate the licensing regime for imports of Ukrainian grain and oilseeds into Moldova is presented by him as a “necessary evil.” Why? After all, in theory, licensing is a means of operational monitoring and control, not a restriction—let alone a block—on imports.
As the leader of the farmers’ organization—in whose favor this decision was reportedly made—put it in this context, “the devil is in the details.” In other words, it is fundamentally important to answer the question: How, by whom, and for what purpose will the licensing mechanism for raw material imports from Ukraine to Moldova be used?
To answer this question, it is important to consider the historical context. Import licensing for Ukrainian agricultural raw materials was first introduced after they flooded the markets of Moldova and Europe as a whole during the 2022/23 season. In response, more or less similar licensing regimes for imports of “sensitive” products from Ukraine were implemented almost simultaneously by the governments of several neighboring countries. In Poland and Romania, the regime was nominally stricter, while in Moldova it was less strict.
In fact, as many market analysts and operators believe, the licensing of Ukrainian imports into Moldova was aimed not so much at “civilized” regulation of grain imports as at effectively blocking sunflower seed shipments from Ukraine—intended for processing by Moldova’s largest oil and fat processing plant. There were several motives behind this decision.
The first motive was that Ukrainian sunflower seeds (an alternative source of cheap raw materials) severely limited the potential for price increases on Moldovan goods. According to the leadership of...
After the Ukrainian drone attack on Novorossiysk on August 12, 3 out of 4 major Russian grain terminals on the Black Sea are still not working, as they are damaged and are not yet ready to load new ships.
According to Bloomberg, during August 18–19, during attacks by sea and air drones on the approaches to Novorossiysk, 4 civilian cargo ships were hit, either on their way to be loaded or had already left the port:
- Victoria V (bulk carrier under the Russian flag) - hit directly in the port before loading wheat;
- Fehu (flagged Marshall Islands) - damaged while leaving port with a cargo of wheat;
- Elina B (flagged Malta) - hit by drones after loading 56,000 tons of wheat at the port;
- Anna S (Liberian flag) - hit on the way to Novorossiysk (fire broke out on board, the ship lost its propulsion).
Mutual strikes on civilian vessels have practically stopped the arrival of ships for loading into Ukrainian ports since July 22, and into Russian ports since August 12, so many importers from Asia are now forced to buy grain from other regions, which is pushing up world wheat prices.
Offer prices for food wheat in Constanta, Romania, as well as Burgas and Varna, Bulgaria, increased from $240-245/t to $270-275/t FOB, while prices for Russian wheat fell from $235/t to $210-215/t FOB Novorossiysk. At the same time, prices for American wheat (SRW) increased by $15/t to $283/t, and for French wheat - to $259-265/t, and for Russian wheat (protein 12.5%) with delivery to Baltic ports - by $15/t to $255/t FOB.
Demand prices for Ukrainian wheat delivered to the port of Constanta have risen to $235-236/t, which helps to keep domestic prices from collapsing, although domestic demand remains very low due to logistical problems both on the railway and with acceptance in Romanian ports. Traders expect that the suspension of exports from the Black Sea regions of the Russian Federation will force the Russian authorities to proceed to negotiations proposed by Ukraine on the cessation of mutual air strikes, but so far the Russian authorities refuse to negotiate, so the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to encourage the enemy to peace.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is developing Sawit EcoTherm, a palm oil-based cooling fluid that could replace water for cooling servers in data centres. The technology has already been tested in an operational environment and is moving closer to commercialisation, with MPOB finalising a licensing agreement with a local manufacturer.
The technology could significantly reduce water consumption by Malaysia’s rapidly expanding data centre industry. According to MPOB, a 100 MW data centre can consume 1.7–4.2 mln litres of water per day, while Sawit EcoTherm could virtually eliminate water use. As of January, Malaysia’s data centres were already consuming around 28.7 mln litres of water per day.
Palm oil-based cooling could also reduce server cooling costs. The coolant is estimated to cost $2.44–6.10/kg, compared with $12.20–19.52/kg for synthetic and petroleum-based alternatives. By eliminating server fans and some mechanical air-conditioning systems, the technology could potentially reduce data centre energy consumption by up to 40% and operating costs by 30–50%.
Commercialisation of the technology could create a new source of demand for palm oil and support prices. This could become increasingly significant as Malaysia’s digital infrastructure expands rapidly: 143 data centre and cloud computing projects worth more than $35 bln were approved between 2021 and mid-2025. However, experts warn that additional demand should not encourage the expansion of oil palm plantations and deforestation.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reopened the public comment period on butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in human food and as a food contact substance, the agency announced on 29 July.
Also known as dibutylhydroxytoluene, BHT is a lipophilic organic compound – chemically a derivative of phenol – with antioxidant properties and is widely used as a food preservative.
In the oils and fats sector, BHT is used primarily as an antioxidant to slow oxidation and prevent rancidity.
On 13 May, the FDA published a notice in the US government’s daily journal, the Federal Register, requesting information on the current uses and safety data for BHT in human food and as a food contact substance as part of its post-market assessment of chemicals in food.
In the FDA’s notice announcing the reopening of the public comment period, the agency said: “We are taking this action in response to a request from stakeholders to extend the comment period to allow additional time for interested parties to develop and submit data, other information and comments.”
The new deadline to submit comments is 31 August 2026.
The European Union continues to increase its sourcing of soy certified under sustainable production standards. According to the European Soy Monitor, the volume of certified soy sourced across the EU27+ reached 14.6 mln tons in 2024, continuing a multi-year growth trend.
At the same time, the share of soy compliant with the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines declined from 54% in 2023 to 44% in 2024. The decrease was driven by growth in Europe’s overall soy footprint, while the absolute volume of certified soy remained high.
The EU remains heavily dependent on imported soy, most of which is used in feed production. Countries with national commitments to sustainable soy sourcing show the strongest results, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Denmark, as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Requirements for soy origin are becoming increasingly important as global production expands. Global soybean production increased to 397 mln tons in 2024, compared with 371 mln tons a year earlier, while the global planted area expanded by 4.4%.
The report expects sustainability and traceability requirements for soy in Europe to strengthen further as the market shifts from voluntary commitments toward regulatory compliance. For suppliers to the European market, demonstrating responsible soy production without deforestation or conversion of natural ecosystems will become increasingly important.
Commercial ships passing through the Panama Canal are facing rising costs amid disruption triggered by the Iran war and falling water levels linked to this year’s intense El Niño weather system, The Guardian reported.
A container ship had reportedly paid about US$4M to jump a queue of vessels waiting to pass through the vital maritime waterway, which links the Pacific and the Atlantic, the 13 August report said.
Ships were now waiting about 10 days for their turn to pass through the trade route – the largest backlog since May, according to Argus Media.
The route is favoured by shippers as it traditionally reduced costs and transit times, particularly for companies involved in trade between Asia and the USA, according to The Guardian report.
While shipping companies usually pay a flat fee to reserve a slot to transit the canal, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which manages the waterway, also runs daily auctions that allow shipowners to place bids to skip the queue.
According to a Bloomberg report, the buyer of the US$4M transit slot – more than double the average bid placed the previous week – was the Seaspan Benefactor container ship.
Shipowners were willing to pay significantly higher prices at auction to avoid queues, as more vessels stayed away from the Gulf and the Red Sea with fighting in the Middle East effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, the narrow waterway between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, The Guardian wrote.
Prices to travel in the Panama canal’s busiest shipping lanes had hit record highs, according to the Financial Times, at a time when water levels were falling amid the rapidly developing El Niño system.
In early August, the ACP had said it would impose limits in late August and early September on how low vessels could travel through the water, known as ship’s draught, in a bid to keep traffic flowing, The Guardian wrote.
In July, the authority had cut the maximum authorised draught, in a measure forcing ships transiting its Neopanamax locks – the canal’s wider and deeper lane – to carry lighter cargoes, the report said.
The decision had been based on water levels and projected conditions for Gatun Lake, an artificial reservoir that feeds the canal, the ACP said, adding that it was “ready to implement preventative measures” during El Niño based on lessons learned during the event in 2023/24 and as it monitored weather conditions.
The European Union is on course for its largest sunflower seed harvest in three years, with the European Commission forecasting 2026 production at slightly more than 9.5 million tonnes as an expansion in planted area combines with improved yields.
The forecast represents an increase of more than 9 per cent from 2025 and would give the EU its strongest sunflower harvest since 2023. The latest projection also broadly confirms the Commission's earlier April estimate, pointing to a significant recovery in European sunflower production after weaker harvests in recent years.
The improvement is being driven by both acreage and productivity. EU sunflower cultivation is estimated to have expanded by around 5 per cent in 2026 to approximately 4.9 million hectares. Average yields are projected at about 19.5 decitonnes per hectare, up from 18.7 decitonnes per hectare in 2025 and well above the 17.4 decitonnes per hectare recorded in 2024.
Romania is expected to retain its position as the EU's largest sunflower producer despite a reduction in planted area to approximately 1.1 million hectares. Improved yields are forecast to lift Romanian production slightly to around 2.2 million tonnes, compared with approximately 2.1 million tonnes a year earlier.
Bulgaria is also strengthening its position in the European sunflower market. With production expected to approach 2.1 million tonnes, the country is projected to rank second among the EU's major sunflower producers in 2026. The country's strong harvest outlook highlights the continued importance of southeastern Europe to the bloc's oilseed supply.
Germany is recording a particularly notable expansion in sunflower cultivation. According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft, German farmers have increased sunflower acreage for the second consecutive year, with the area reaching approximately 98,000 hectares. That would represent the country's largest sunflower cultivation area on record.
The expansion in German sunflower acreage has its roots partly in the changes to cropping patterns that followed the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe in 2022. Farmers substantially increased sunflower cultivation at that time, and the crop has continued to gain ground as producers look to diversify rotations and introduce additional summer crops.
Inventure Renewables and CPM|Crown have entered into a global, non-exclusive partnership to commercialise Inventure’s SimplEster esterification technology for biodiesel producers, combining the catalyst-free process with CPM|Crown’s established sodium methylate biodiesel systems.
The partnership is built around a commercial installation at Western Iowa Energy, LLC (WIE) in Wall Lake, Iowa, where SimplEster was commissioned in 2024 as the technology’s first US deployment. The installation has demonstrated the ability to expand processing capacity while converting lower-value fatty acid streams into finished biodiesel within the existing production footprint.
At WIE, the SimplEster system was integrated into the plant’s existing sodium methylate transesterification process rather than replacing the existing system. The addition increased processing capacity by approximately 15 per cent while producing biodiesel with an acid value below 0.5 mg KOH/g, the threshold relevant to finished-fuel specifications.
The technology can also be configured for different acid-value requirements, with the process capable of reaching targets as low as 0.2 mg KOH/g depending on feedstock characteristics, plant configuration and finished-fuel requirements. This flexibility could be particularly relevant for producers processing challenging feedstocks or operating without extensive downstream purification equipment.
SimplEster’s key distinction is its elimination of added catalyst and enzymes from the esterification stage. By removing these consumable inputs, the technology is designed to reduce operating requirements while simplifying the equipment and maintenance burden associated with conventional esterification approaches.
For biodiesel producers, the economics extend beyond reducing consumable inputs. At WIE, the technology has enabled the plant to retain and process free fatty acids that were previously recovered through conventional steam-strip distillation and sold into commodity markets. Instead of sending the fatty acid stream out of the facility, WIE can now convert it internally into on-specification biodiesel, capturing additional value from the same feedstock.