New potash mine opening delayed

BHP Group Ltd. of Australia said its Jansen potash mine 150 killometres east of Saskatoon is running 30 per over budget and its opening will be delayed about six months to mid-2027.

BHP is poised to break the Saskatchewan monopoly on potash.

BHP said the first phase of the Jansen project could cost $7 to $7.4 billion US compared with its initial estimate of $5.7 billion US.

It blamed the projection on “inflationary and real cost escalation pressures, design development and scope changes, and our current assessment of lower productivity outcomes over the construction period.”

Some of that stems from disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains, and the resulting inflation as the world’s economy fired up after the health restrictions.

U.S. tariff on Brazil’s beef bites hard

 

The United States decision to impose a steep 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian goods, including beef, is rattling global protein markets, said Swineweb, adding that pork producers should take note.

Brazilian packers are halting shipments to the U.S. and cutting cattle purchases as they reassess demand. Industry estimates suggest Brazil could lose up to $1.3 billion in the second half of 2025, with losses doubling to $3 billion in 2026 if the tariffs remain.

Brazil, which supplies around 23 per cent of U.S. beef imports, plays a key role in filling the lean beef trim used to balan

Canadian beef packers and producers may find American buyers will bid up prices.

While pork is not directly included in the tariffs, the indirect impacts could reshape the market:

For example, as  beef prices rise for consumers, pork often becomes the go-to alternative, increasing domestic demand and possibly lifting prices, Swineweb said.

It also said Brazilian packers will look to divert products to other export markets, potentially crowding pork and poultry channels and introducing new competition.

Forty ports face uncertain ownership

China is threatening to derail a $23 billion deal for more than 40 global ports including two at the Panama Canal .

China insists that its state-owned shipping company, COSCO,  be included in the deal with BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Co. 

The ports are owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison which excluded COSCO from the deal.

United States President Donald Trump has already objected to Hutchison’s control of Panama Canal ports and recently threatened to “take back” the canal, accusing Panama of violating the treaty that transferred U.S. control. 

While BlackRock and MSC had initially signed an exclusive deal with Hutchison in March, all parties are reportedly now open to COSCO’s involvement — though no final agreement can be struck before the exclusivity window closes on July 27.

Pork council rejoins CFA

The Canadian Pork Council has rejoined the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

It pulled out in 2013 because the CFA supported the supply-managed commodities when they called for no concessions on their trade protections during negotiations with the United States, the European Union and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The pork council was seeking trade gains for its exports.

Stephen Heckbert, executive director for the pork council, said it was time to join forces with other commodities given the trade uncertainties.

“There’s all sorts of trade pressures on us but also on agriculture as a whole,” he said.

Butter makers diss Country Crock

The American Butter Institute and the National Milk Producers Federation have sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, and put out a press release  calling on Country Crock-brand margarine to be prohibited from using the term "butter" on its label .

The label does say the margarine is  "plant-based" or "dairy-free".

There was a time when the butter industry was so opposed to margarine that it demanded it not be colored to imitate butter in the Canadian market. And for decades there was a ban on blending butter and margarine so the blend would spread nicely from the refrigerator.

In today’s United States market, butter has made a come-back to 57 per cent of the masrket with margarine at 26 per cent and blends at 17 per cent.

Randy White elected treasurer

 

Randy White of Maple Leaf Foods has been elected treasurer of the American Meat Institute.

Meat-packing companies in Canada and the United States are members of the institute.

Peter Bozzo of Michael’s Fine Foods was elected executive vice-president.

Julie Anna :Potts is the president and chief executive officer.

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Sorry, you lost 200 staff

The United States is deporting about 200 employers of the JBS meat-packing plant at Ottumwa, Iowa.

The news came from the mayor during a municipal council meeting where he called for people to keep those facing deportation in their thoughts.

The 200 employees were previously legal workers, but the federal government has revoked their visas.

"JBS has been issuing 200 notices to people from Haiti, Cuba, Guatemala and Nicaragua,” the mayor said.

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to proceed with the revocation of past administrations’ grant of temporary legal status for more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, based on political repression, violence or natural disasters in those countries. 

Some people losing temporary legal status may be able to apply for political asylum.