Historically, the keys to getting out of bear commodity markets have been economic growth and production cuts in response to low prices. Rising grain and oilseed stocks from the 1997 Asian financial crisis began to subside as the recovery in world gross domestic product (GDP) growth boosted demand (see graph below). More recently, however, global corn, wheat and soybean stocks continued to increase for six years (2012–2017) despite positive world GDP growth. There was a slight drop in stocks last year and a further weather-related decline this year at the same time the world economy is slightly softening. The disconnect between demand growth and stocks is largely the result of the uptake of technology plus policy influences in some m...

TAGS – Feed Grains, Soy & Oilseeds, Wheat, Australia, Asia, Black Sea, Europe