Middle East conflict: Food security and grains trading implications
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Synopsis
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East is disrupting grain and fertiliser trade, driving up production costs for major agricultural producers including Brazil, the US, India, and China, while pushing food import bills higher for vulnerable countries such as Egypt. In this webinar, Kpler analysts examine what US-China soybean trade signals for 2026 acreage, how adverse weather across Brazil and Argentina is weighing on harvests, and what the 2026/27 winter wheat crop emerging from dormancy means for new crop supply.
What you'll learn
- Immediate food-security concerns in the region due to the Hormuz blockade
- The impact of the Middle East conflict on fertiliser trade and crops that might be affected
- What swing in US corn and soybean acreage can currently be expected in 2026
- US soybean's continued dependence on China and expectations for the next year
- The impact that Brazil's soybean harvest pace has had on export volume and planting of the safrinha corn crop
- Wheat markets' response and possible demand issues next year
- Key market drivers for the upcoming month
Meet the speakers
Matthew Darragh
Matt joined Kpler’s Insight Team in January 2025 as a Grains & Oilseeds Analyst, based in London. Prior to Kpler, Matt was a Cereals & Oilseeds Analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), conducting both domestic (UK) and global analysis of the respective grains and oilseeds markets. Before becoming an analyst at AHDB, Matt acquired a Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics at the University of Reading. At Kpler, Matt contributes to the Insight reports and conducts supply and demand analysis to support on the grain balance sheets.
Ishan Bhanu
Ishan joined Kpler’s dry bulk and Insights teams in October 2023. Based in Dubai, he has over 12 years of experience with global grains markets research and trading. Ishan is building an understanding of agricultural markets and trade within Kpler, to add to and support its dry bulk data offering. He is also building analytical tools and balance sheets for major ags like wheat, corn, soybeans and barley, with focus on developing all the support required for trade decision-making by Kpler clients. Ishan has worked as Head of Research at Invivo and as Associate Trader at Olam International. He founded Integrated Research Dubai and was a consultant for major trading houses across the globe, before joining Kpler.
