*
U.S. winter wheat ratings lowest on record; corn 8%
planted
*
Ukraine faces east EU import bans while Black Sea deal
uncertain
*
Soybeans higher on U.S. crush, Argentine drought, veg oils
rally
(Updates with European trading, changes byline/dateline)
By Gus Trompiz and Naveen Thukral
PARIS/SINGAPORE, April 18 (Reuters) - Chicago wheat rose
further on Tuesday to its highest in nearly three weeks as poor
conditions for U.S. wheat crops and import bans targeting
Ukrainian grain in eastern Europe created concern about global
availability.
Corn futures stayed firm, supported by the risks to
Ukrainian supply as the market assessed mixed weather for U.S.
planting.
Soybeans also extended gains. The oilseed was supported by
strong crushing demand in the U.S. in March and a rally in
edible oil markets as participants feared disruption to
Ukrainian exports.
In Romania, the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) said it
will ask the coalition government to approve a temporary ban on
Ukrainian grain imports, mirroring moves by other eastern
European Union countries concerned about an influx of cheaper
grain.
A halt to vessel inspections on Monday under a Black Sea
grain agreement heightened concerns about Ukrainian shipments
after Russia's warnings it could pull out of the wartime deal
next month, though inspections resumed on Tuesday.
"It seems that Ukraine's crop exports are being threatened
like never before," brokerage Copenhagen Merchants said in a
note.
However, market reaction has been tempered by expectations
an agreement may be reached with EU countries to maintain
transit of Ukrainian grain for onward export, as well as
continuing large exports of Russian wheat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rated 27% of U.S.
winter wheat in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from a
week ago and the lowest for this time of year in records dating
to the late 1980s.
For corn, the USDA said planting was 8% complete by Sunday,
behind the average analyst estimate of 10%, but ahead of the
five-year average of 5%.
The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of
Trade (CBOT) was up 1.0% at $7.14 a bushel by 1054 GMT,
after earlier reaching a highest since March 29.
CBOT soybeans rose 0.9% to $14.98-3/4 a bushel and
corn added 0.4% to $6.45-1/4 a bushel.
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Naveen Thukral in
Singapore; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Uttaresh Venkateshwaran
and Sonia Cheema)
