26-FEB-1987 15:01:01.79 cocoa el-salvadorusauruguay C T f0704reute u f BC-BAHIA-COCOA-REVIEW 02-26 0105  BAHIA COCOA REVIEW SALVADOR, Feb 26 - Showers continued throughout t he week in the Bahia cocoa zone, alleviating the drought since early January and improving prospects for the coming temporao, although normal humidity levels have not been restored, Comissaria Smith said in its weekly review. The dry period means the temporao will be late this year. Arrivals for the week ended February 22 were 155,221 bags of 60 kilos making a cumulative total for the season of 5.93 mln against 5.81 at the same stage last year. Again it seems that cocoa delivered earlier on consignment was included in the arrivals figures. Comissaria Smith said there is still some doubt as to how much old crop cocoa is still available as harvesting has practically come to an end. With total Bahia crop estimates around 6.4 mln bags and sales standing at almost 6.2 mln there are a few hundred thousand bags still in the hands of farmers, middlemen, exporters and processors. There are doubts as to how much of this cocoa would be fit for export as shippers are now experiencing dificulties in obtaining +Bahia superior+ certificates. In view of the lower quality over recent weeks farmers have sold a good part of their cocoa held on consignment. Comissaria Smith said spot bean prices rose to 340 to 350 cruzados per arroba of 15 kilos. Bean shippers were reluctant to offer nearby shipment and only limited sales were booked for March shipment at 1,750 to 1,780 dlrs per tonne to ports to be named. New crop sales were also light and all to open ports with June/July going at 1,850 and 1,880 dlrs and at 35 and 45 dlrs under New York july, Aug/Sept at 1,870, 1,875 and 1,880 dlrs per tonne FOB. Routine sales of butter were made. March/April sold at 4,340, 4,345 and 4,350 dlrs. April/May butter went at 2.27 times New York May, June/July at 4,400 and 4,415 dlrs, Aug/Sept at 4,351 to 4,450 dlrs and at 2.27 and 2.28 times New York Sept and Oct/Dec at 4,480 dlrs and 2.27 times New York Dec, Comissaria Smith said. Destinations were the U.S., Covertible currency areas, Uruguay and open ports. Cake sales were registered at 785 to 995 dlrs for March/April, 785 dlrs for May, 753 dlrs for Aug and 0.39 times New York Dec for Oct/Dec. Buyers were the U.S., Argentina, Uruguay and convertible currency areas. Liquor sales were limited with March/April selling at 2,325 and 2,380 dlrs, June/July at 2,375 dlrs and at 1.25 times New York July, Aug/Sept at 2,400 dlrs and at 1.25 times New York Sept and Oct/Dec at 1.25 times New York Dec, Comissaria Smith said. Total Bahia sales are currently estimated at 6.13 mln bags against the 1986/87 crop and 1.06 mln bags against the 1987/88 crop. Final figures for the period to February 28 are expected to be published by the Brazilian Cocoa Trade Commission after carnival which ends midday on February 27. Reuter  26-FEB-1987 15:10:44.60 grainwheatcornbarleyoatsorghum usa C G f0738reute u f BC-average-prices 02-26 0095  NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICES FOR FARMER-OWNED RESERVE WASHINGTON, Feb 26 - The U.S. Agriculture Departm ent reported the farmer-owned reserve national five-day average price through February 25 as follows (Dlrs/Bu-Sorghum Cwt) - Natl Loan Release Call Avge Rate-X Level Price Price Wheat 2.55 2.40 IV 4.65 -- V 4.65 -- VI 4.45 -- Corn 1.35 1.92 IV 3.15 3.15 V 3.25 -- X - 1986 Rates. Natl Loan Release Call Avge Rate-X Level Price Price Oats 1.24 0.99 V 1.65 -- Barley n.a. 1.56 IV 2.55 2.55 V 2.65 -- Sorghum 2.34 3.25-Y IV 5.36 5.36 V 5.54 -- Reserves I, II and III have matured. Level IV reflects grain entered after Oct 6, 1981 for feedgrain and after July 23, 1981 for wheat. Level V wheat/barley after 5/14/82, corn/sorghum after 7/1/82. Level VI covers wheat entered after January 19, 1984. X-1986 rates. Y-dlrs per CWT (100 lbs). n.a.-not available. Reuter  26-FEB-1987 15:14:36.41 veg-oillinseedlin-oilsoy-oilsun-oilsoybeanoilseedcornsunseedgrainsorghum wheat argentina G f0754reute r f BC-ARGENTINE-1986/87-GRA 02-26 0066  ARGENTINE 1986/87 GRAIN/OILSEED REGISTRATIONS BUENOS AIRES, Feb 26 - Argentine grain board figu res show crop registrations of grains, oilseeds and their products to February 11, in thousands of tonnes, showing those for futurE shipments month, 1986/87 total and 1985/86 total to February 12, 1986, in brackets: Bread wheat prev 1,655.8, Feb 872.0, March 164.6, total 2,692.4 (4,161.0). Maize Mar 48.0, total 48.0 (nil). Sorghum nil (nil) Oilseed export registrations were: Sunflowerseed total 15.0 (7.9) Soybean May 20.0, total 20.0 (nil) The board also detailed export registrations for subproducts, as follows, SUBPRODUCTS Wheat prev 39.9, Feb 48.7, March 13.2, Apr 10.0, total 111.8 (82.7) . Linseed prev 34.8, Feb 32.9, Mar 6.8, Apr 6.3, total 80.8 (87.4). Soybean prev 100.9, Feb 45.1, MAr nil, Apr nil, May 20.0, total 166.1 (218.5). Sunflowerseed prev 48.6, Feb 61.5, Mar 25.1, Apr 14.5, total 149.8 (145.3). Vegetable oil registrations were : Sunoil prev 37.4, Feb 107.3, Mar 24.5, Apr 3.2, May nil, Jun 10.0, total 182.4 (117.6). Linoil prev 15.9, Feb 23.6, Mar 20.4, Apr 2.0, total 61.8, (76.1). Soybean oil prev 3.7, Feb 21.1, Mar nil, Apr 2.0, May 9.0, Jun 13.0, Jul 7.0, total 55.8 (33.7). REUTER  26-FEB-1987 15:39:41.92 housing usa F f0827reute r f BC-JANUARY-HOUSING-SALES 02-26 0103  JANUARY HOUSING SALES DROP, REALTY GROUP SAYS WASHINGTON, Feb 26 - Sales of previously owned ho mes dropped 14.5 pct in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.47 mln units, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said. But the December rate of 4.06 mln units had been the highest since the record 4.15 mln unit sales rate set in November 1978, the group said. "The drop in January is not surprising considering that a significant portion of December's near-record pace was made up of sellers seeking to get favorable capital gains treatment under the old tax laws," said the NAR's John Tuccillo. Reuter  26-FEB-1987 16:40:00.82 iraniraq RM V Y f0052reute b f AM-GULF-OPERATION ***URGENT 02-26 0097  IRAN ANNOUNCES END OF MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN GULF WAR LONDON, Feb 26 - Iran announced tonight that its major offensive against Iraq in the Gulf war had ended after dealing savage blows against the Baghdad government. The Iranian news agency IRNA, in a report received in London, said the operation code-named Karbala-5 launched into Iraq on January 9 was now over. It quoted a joint statewment by the Iranian Army and Revolutionary Guards Corps as saying that their forces had "dealt one of the severest blows on the Iraqi war machine in the history of the Iraq-imposed war." The statement by the Iranian High Command appeared to herald the close of an assault on the port city of Basra in southern Iraq. "The operation was launched at a time when the Baghdad government was spreading extensive propaganda on the resistance power of its army...," said the statement quoted by IRNA. It claimed massive victories in the seven-week offensive and called on supporters of Baghdad to "come to their senses" and discontinue support for what it called the tottering regime in Iraq. Iran said its forces had "liberated" 155 square kilometers of enemy-occupied territory during the 1987 offensive and taken over islands, townships, rivers and part of a road leading into Basra. The Iranian forces "are in full control of these areas," the statement said. It said 81 Iraqi brigades and battalions were totally destroyed, along with 700 tanks and 1,500 other vehicles. The victory list also included 80 warplanes downed, 250 anti- aircraft guns and 400 pieces of military hardware destroyed and the seizure of 220 tanks and armoured personnel carriers. Reuter