Russian Grain Markets: 20-24 August 2018 Milling wheat prices once again continued to rise in the European part of Russia, although it was at a slower rate...
Articles
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.565/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.4175/bushel, up $0.185 from yesterday's close. ...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up: BSE? NBD.
Wheat lead the CBOT higher today on concerns that Russia might restrict exports in the near future. Corn and soybeans were reluctant followers with lingeri...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Declines Slightly Stepped-up utilization rates created a buying opportunity for downstream feed manufacturers and livestock prod...
Trump’s NAFTA Problems; India Clean Up; European Insecurity; Venezuelan Holodomor
Trump’s NAFTA Problems There is a lengthy list of problems and hurdles related to the Trump Administration’s trade agreement with Mexico...
Market Commentary
Overnight trading was mixed in terms of price action and unenthusiastic in terms of mood. Word of an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico on ways to chang...
The Trade Pact Formerly Known as NAFTA
Like many things with Trump’s trade negotiating process, there are perhaps more questions than answers about the newly announced U.S.-Mexico trade ac...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.5625/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.2325/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.&...
Soybeans’ Uncertain Future
Yesterday, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced long awaited details of the aid package promised to U.S. farmers. The $12 billion aid package is to offset...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up: Live Cattle WTFutures?
If you like volatility, the cattle markets are the place. The markets initially treated yesterday’s limit gains with contempt, heading lower in early...
Oilseed Highlights: More Corn, Fewer Pigs, Drier Brazil
Survey Says: U.S. Farmers Will Plant More Corn and Less Soybeans in 2019 Farmers intend to plant more corn than soybeans in 2019, according to a survey of...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates: Mediterranean/Middle East Comments: The Turkish lira’s drop is forecasted to push up inflation in Turkey by as much as 20 percent i...
Opinions
Opinions on how the president is handling the various trade issues are very wide-ranging across farm country. That isn’t unexpected as there’s...
Freezing Superiority; Transatlantic HFT; How Sweet!
Freezing Superiority Canadians are the last to admit that it is freezing – their egos are tied to their ability to endure the cold. Thus, Canadian Fo...
Market Commentary
Markets were lower again in the Sunday night session as well as throughout today. Corn and soybeans were still suffering a hangover from the Pro Farmer tou...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.615/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.225/bushel, down $0.14 from yesterday's close.&nb...
Smile! Options Market Looking for $3.50-3.60 Corn
In the latest sequence of WPI’s weekly Smile! report, the biggest feature is a bearish expectation for December corn futures while traders are protec...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Brazil There was some interesting movement of old crop soybeans last week from Brazil to China. After several days of the weaker real, stronger CB...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market corrected lower during the past two weeks as it probably rallied too fast and too high in the first 10 days of August, b...
Cattle on Feed
The inventory of cattle on feed (COF) set a new record for the month of August at 11.093 million head (the monthly data goes back to 1996), 489,000 more th...
Market and Economic Impact of Food Donations
After a week of anticipation, yesterday USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the $12 billion trade mitigation package that was expected today will in...
Cattle on Feed
USDA estimated United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent for August 2018: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedl...
Partially Right, Partially Wrong; Fake versus Natural Fix; AGOAnizing over Trade
Partially Right, Partially Wrong Hiroshige Seko, Japan’s top political leader at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), correctly assert...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.6275/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.365/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.&n...
Market Commentary
Corn and soybean markets traded a bit better overnight with wheat markets again lower. China’s “low-level” trade delegation went home wit...
India Subcontinent Regional Analysis
GOI Restricts Ethanol Imports to Non-Fuel Use Only India announced its new biofuels policy in June 2018, which specifies that only indigenous suppliers usi...
More Things to Keep You Up at Night
Farmers and the markets were hoping to learn more today about how USDA plans to allocate the $12 billion that the Trump administration has promised to pay...
Market Commentary
As of this writing, there is no word from the two-day U.S./China trade meeting that should be about to wrap up. No one expects an agreement to suspend host...
Latest Trade War Outlook; Soy Bias; Fresh Waste
Latest Trade War Outlook The U.S. and China exchanged the latest round of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, imposing 25 percent additional costs on reciproc...
Evolving Food Market Chain
The food marketing chain has been and continues to be one of the most heavily studied subjects related to U.S. and, ultimately, world agriculture. It is a...
Cattle on Feed; Poultry and Eggs
Cattle on Feed Tomorrow (after the markets close) USDA will release its monthly Cattle on Feed report. The industry’s pre-report estimates peg the to...
Oilseed Highlights: U.S. and Brazilian Soy Crops; Nigeria’s Soy Supply/Demand; U.S. Soy Export Sales
Big Soy Crop for the U.S. But Perhaps Not Brazil The Pro Farmer crop tour across the Midwest ends today. If participants’ findings are correct, the U...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.61/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.4175/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.&n...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up: No Problem Selling Pork
The CBOT was slightly lower for most of the day until late-afternoon selling pushed the market to steeper losses. At one point, wheat futures were in the g...
Export Sales
Wheat: Net sales of 239,800 MT for 2018/2019 were down 70 percent from the previous week and 49 percent from the prior 4-week average. Co...
Market Commentary
USDA’s aid package for farmers, whose income prospects have been impacted by the administration’s use of higher tariffs as trade policy, is rep...
To NAFTA or Not; Better Than versus Half of Whole; Jurassic Crackers
To NAFTA or Not Reports indicate that the Trump administration is prepared to announce tomorrow that it has reached agreement with the Mexican govern...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 13-17 August 2018 Grain prices continued to grow in the European part of Russia but decreased in Ural and Siberia as new crop produc...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.6675/bushel, down $0.075 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.4525/bushel, down $0.025 from yesterday's close.&...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The CBOT continued its trend lower today with little news except more confirmations of large yields. Livestock futures were sharply lower on slow cash catt...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Rebounds on Stepped-Up Crushing Activity As new shipments of imported soybeans from Brazil continue to arrive here in August, cr...
Market Commentary
Quiet overnight trading saw weaker wheat prices, while corn and soybeans traded narrowly on either side of unchanged. Winter wheat futures fell below techn...
Comments Submitted to the EPA on the RFS
The comment period for the 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations closed on 17 August. There were more than 290,000 comments filed. Some hig...
Capping Farm Subsidies; Exploiting Scientific Illiteracy
Capping Farm Subsidies The political left and right are lamenting their failure in this year’s U.S. farm bill debate to more successfully impose stri...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.7425/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.4775/bushel, down $0.1475 from yesterday's close...
Some Items Worth Mentioning
Mid-August until mid-September is often relatively quiet or even dull for grain and soy markets because there is not much to inspire trading or move prices...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The CBOT headed lower today primarily on unsurprising results from the Pro Farmer tours and a general lack of fresh news. The weather through the end of Au...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS The Muslim religious holiday of Eid Al Adha is being celebrated across the Middle East/North Africa (ME...
Oilseed Highlights: Egypt’s Booming Soybean Imports; Crop Tour Report; Brazil’s Glyphosate Ban Update…
Egypt’s Booming Soybean Imports Egypt’s soybean imports have significantly risen due to a combination of sharp increases in soymeal demand from...
Outlook for Negotiation Week; Notable Global Policy Developments
Outlook for Negotiation Week China-U.S.: Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen meets with U.S. Treasury Under Secretary David Malpass in an effort...
Economic Growth and Food Inflation
July data shows that the ag trade situation has been a drag on inflationary pressure, mostly through dropped earnings from exports. Total export prices dec...
Market Commentary
Wheat and corn were lower overnight, and the soy complex was firm. The weakness in wheat was caused by a bigger-than-expected fund long position coupled wi...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.765/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.625/bushel, down $0.1725 from yesterday's close.&...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Brazil The Brazilian market had some movement at the beginning of last week, but it then calmed down by Friday due to the news that China and the...
Smile! Options Market Hugely Bearish Cattle
In the latest sequence of WPI’s weekly Smile! report, the most notable features are decreasing expectations for volatility in crops and a huge bearis...
Disappearing World Feed Grains Supplies
The August USDA WASDE and NASS production estimates raised the U.S. corn yield while increasing both the U.S. and world corn ending supplies slightly. Howe...
NAFTA Close and Far; Planning Swiss Ag; Dignity and Respect
NAFTA Close and Far U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced he’s “hopeful that in the next several days we’ll have a breakt...
Environmental Policy Emanating from the Carolinas
WOTUS is Back In February, the Trump administration promulgated a “suspension rule” that effectively delayed the implementation of the Waters o...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.7875/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.7975/bushel, up $0.1775 from yesterday's close.&nb...
Market Commentary
Markets were mixed overnight and again today. The night session ended with wheat up 9-11 cents, corn steady to a half-cent higher and soybeans down 5 cents...
This Could Be the Start of Something Big
It’s been another interesting week in the grain and soy markets, and following are some of the reasons why: The Trump administration announced...
India Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Dropping Rupee Impacts Imports and Economy The Indian rupee has continued to drop in value against the U.S. dollar. It is currently trading at 70.14 versus...
Market Commentary
Yesterday was a macro “risk -off” day as fears that currency and debt issues for emerging economies might spread widely enough to jar world eco...
Trade War Phase II; War Misanalysis
Trade War Phase II The EU and U.S. have a pathway for resolving trade differences, as wrought as it is with potential disappointment, and now the Chinese a...
Aussie Feeder Cattle Boom; Korea Offsetting China as Pork Destination
Aussie Feeder Cattle Boom The inventory of Australian cattle in feedlots is at a record high despite bullish grain prices Down Under. The drivers hav...
Remember Demand
At this time of the year and, in fact, during the entire summer growing season, grain and soy markets are intently focused on supplies. What will be the le...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.7975/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close. Dec 18 Wheat closed at $5.62/bushel, up $0.1025 from yesterday's close. ...
Oilseed Highlights: U.S.-China Dispute Update and Impact on Brazil; Soy Export Sales; NOPA Crush
Soybean Futures Jump on News of China Delegation Coming to the U.S. CBOT soybean futures prices rose more than 27 cents/bushel today on a report that China...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
China once again made headlines today with the announcement of “low level” trade talks between the Middle Kingdom and the White House. The news...
Export Sales
USDA data for week ending August 9, 2018: Wheat: Net sales of 803,000 MT for 2018/2019--a marketing-year high--were up noticeably from the previous...
Market Commentary
Turnaround Tuesday’s higher prices for grain and soy futures did not last long. An array of negative macro influences and forecasts for a week of fav...
Rise Above the WTO; Pros and Cons of Relocate
Rise Above the WTO Channeling Donald Trump’s incendiary style, the normally thoughtful Kevin Hassett, chair of the White House Council of Economic Ad...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 6-10 August 2018 Grain prices increased due to rising prices on international markets and weakening of the ruble. Milling wheat expo...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.76/bushel, down $0.005 from yesterday's close. Sep 18 Wheat closed at $5.3225/bushel, down $0.095 from yesterday's close.&nb...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Livestock futures were higher on modest support while grains futures gave back all of Turnaround Tuesday’s gains. Would that make today a Washout Wed...
China In-Country Analysis
Macro Trends Data Point to Gradual Slowdown in China’s Domestic Economy A combination of tighter credit restrictions, the impacts of the trade disput...
Market Commentary
Overnight trade in CME grain and soy futures bounced off yesterday’s closes in modest Turnaround Tuesday fashion, indicating that markets had absorbe...
Keeping the Feds Out of Nutrition
The 2018 Farm Bill is in the House-Senate conference committee. Three former USDA secretaries, Tom Vilsack (Obama), Ann Veneman (Bush 43) and Dan Glic...
Oilseed Highlights: Argentina’s Soy Export Taxes; NOPA Crush Estimate; China’s U.S. Soybean Imports
Argentina Suspends Export Tax Reductions for Soyoil and Soymeal The government of Argentina today announced that reductions in the export tax rates for soy...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.765/bushel, up $0.06 from yesterday's close. Sep 18 Wheat closed at $5.4175/bushel, up $0.0825 from yesterday's close. ...
Receding the Trade War; New Food Standard; Commodities/Recession
Receding the Trade War Sinking emerging-market currencies coupled with trade war impacts on economic growth are raising fears of a global recession. China&...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
After two days of aggressive selling, the CBOT turned green as a Turnaround Tuesday got underway. Wheat and the soy complex (especially soymeal) lead the w...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS Afghanistan is facing its lowest wheat crop sin...
Debates Over Yields
The August WASDE was filled with surprises compared with general expectations ahead of its release, and almost all either directly or indirectly concerned...
Ethanol More Expensive to Blenders, but Fuel Demand a Record
Things are bearish for ethanol producers despite a strong gasoline market. Ethanol margins are being squeezed to their lowest point in about six months, mo...
Pre-Existing Policy; Calm Before Storm; EU Pain; Killing Brazilian Ag
Rationalizing Pre-Existing Policy Chinese Vice Minister Han Jun boasted that in light of the trade war, his country can readily shift its sources for agric...
Where Did All Those Bushels Come From?
USDA surprised the markets last Friday by raising its corn and soybean yield estimates significantly from the June report. While increases weren’t un...
Market Commentary
Markets were lower in the Sunday evening session as the hangover from last Friday’s bearish USDA corn and soybean numbers continued. The wheat number...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.705/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close. Sep 18 Wheat closed at $5.335/bushel, down $0.1325 from yesterday's close.&...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans China’s soybean demand remains at a standstill for all positions. Last week’s market activity (or lack thereof) was the same as it has...
Smile! Despite the WASDE, Corn Still Leans Bullish
Over the past two weeks, WPI has started publishing a weekly article containing Implied Volatility “smile” charts for key agricultural commodit...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market was well supported last week. The bearish USDA WASDE report didn’t have a strong impact on the cash prices in Russ...
WASDE Soyoil
USDA’s August 2018 estimate is that soybean oil price is unchanged at 28.0 to 32.0 cents per pound. Lower soybean crush for China and rapeseed crush...
WASDE Soymeal
USDA’s August 2018 estimate is that crush is raised 10 million bushels to a record 2,040 million on strong soybean meal exports. The soybean meal pri...
WASDE Soybeans
USDA’s August 2018 estimate is U.S. soybean production at 4,586 million bushels, up 276 million on higher yields. The first survey-based soybean yiel...
WASDE Ethanol Margin Forecast and EIA Projections
Ethanol production nameplate capacity has exceeded 16 billion gallons, growing more than 700 million gallons or 5 percent from 2017 to 2018. The increase i...
WASDE Corn
USDA’s August 2018/19 estimate is for larger U.S. corn supplies, greater feed and residual use, increased exports, and larger ending stocks. Corn pro...
The Bear is Back
USDA’s August production and supply/demand estimates were (again) bearish for soybeans, neutral-to-bearish corn and slightly bullish wheat. Foll...
WASDE Wheat
USDA’s August 2018 estimate is that U.S. wheat production is lowered 4 million bushels to 1,877 million on a slight reduction in winter wheat and dur...
Attacking Fake Food Claims; Friday Policy Shorts
Attacking Fake Food Claims Proactive work by the U.S. FDA has greatly helped the food industry while its inactions have harmed it. The GMO labeling debacle...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.7175/bushel, down $0.11 from yesterday's close. Sep 18 Wheat closed at $5.4675/bushel, down $0.1775 from yesterday's close.&...
Market Commentary
At the end of the day, it was all about what USDA had to say. That turned out to be another bearish report on corn and, especially, soybeans. The wheat num...
India Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Sugar Prices Stable; Exports Not Feasible Even with the Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) export incentive of 7 percent, it is not possible to ma...
Market Commentary
Overnight trade was quiet as expected with traders looking to reduce risk and position in preparation for tomorrow’s mid-session WASDE release. Wheat...
Make it Transparent; Planting in 2019; Scale of Safety
Make it Transparent There is no word at this hour as to the outcome of today’s bilateral trade talks between Japan and the U.S. The talks are proceed...
Export Update; WASDE and Trade
First Half 2018 Exports Up; Second Half TBD June export numbers show pork shipments down for the month but up for the first half of the year. There were ma...
Summary of Futures
Dec 18 Corn closed at $3.8275/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Sep 18 Wheat closed at $5.645/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close.&...
Tracking Exports
Commodity futures markets thrive on various forms of instant gratification that are capable of immediately moving market prices and providing trading oppor...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grain and oilseeds did little ahead of tomorrow’s massively important WASDE while cattle futures closed lower on lack of cash market support. Hog fut...
Export Sales
USDA data for weekending August 2, 2018: Wheat: Net sales of 317,100 MT for 2018/2019 were down 17 percent from the previous week, but up 5 per...
Market Commentary
Grain and soy futures traded quietly overnight with little fresh direction, and prices were mostly a bit higher. Much of the selling seemed to be liquidati...
Interstate Pig Rivalry; Not Sweet
Interstate Pig Rivalry Farmers receive some state-level protections from NIMBYism (not in my backyard) in that someone cannot generally move next to a farm...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 30 July-3 August 2018 Expecting international market prices to grow further, Russian grain traders limited their offer. Milling whea...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains and oilseed futures were largely flat ahead of Friday’s WASDE report with wheat and soybeans finding small gains near the close. Cattle future...
China In-Country Anlaysis
Macro Trends U.S. Ag Exports Through First Half Of 2018 Show Impact of Tariffs While the effects of China’s trade war with the U.S. have primarily fo...
Market Commentary
Grain and soy futures traded higher overnight. Support came from lower weekly crop condition ratings for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat and higher prices...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Lucky Policymakers; Ag’s Future
Lucky Policymakers Former U.S. President Bill Clinton had his share of notoriety, but his political survival was based in part due to the fortune of a humm...
WASDE Report Looms
USDA will release its August WASDE at Noon EDT Friday, 10 August. The August WASDE is always highly anticipated since it includes NASS’ first estimat...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains and oilseeds traded a largely uneventful day while waiting for the USDA’s WASDE report on Friday. Livestock futures were lower with cattle fut...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Mediterranean/Middle East Comments Egypt reports that current wheat reserves will cover its needs for the next four months. Wheat import purchases are fore...
U.S. – China Trade Dispute: More Complex Than It May Appear
The ongoing conference in Indonesia organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the U.S. Grains Council has featured major discussions about the outlo...
Tariffs and Foreign Exchange
In the complex dynamics of the global economy, it is sometimes difficult to discern what is cause and what is effect. Not surprisingly, however, the Chines...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Another Side of the Wheat Market
U.S. wheat futures have rallied and exceeded their most recent highs set in June 2017. Chicago December wheat is back pushing against the $6.00 level today...
Market Commentary
Soybeans were lower overnight with wheat and corn slightly higher. That was also today’s pattern, except that wheat found good buying soon after toda...
China’s Burdens; GI’s Discriminate; Sunset Solution
China’s Burdens The U.S.-China trade war is causing causalities on both sides, and following are a sample of China’s. Some Chinese are be...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Last week was another boring one for soybean trading. Brazil’s market is at a standstill with almost no trades, despite some cargoes for Sep...
Smile! Wheat's Still Bullish
As noted last week, WPI is starting a new weekly report on the IV “smile” of nearby corn, soybeans, SRW wheat, and live cattle futures. Our goa...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea wheat market was extremely firm last week with domestic market prices in South Russia $9/MT higher while the FOB market rose $1...
EPA Report Five Years Late, Implications Moving Forward
On 29 June, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development issued the Second Triennial Report to Congress on Biofuels and the Environment. The report r...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Trade War Spin; A New Trade Era Ahead; Mugabeism Lives On
Trade War Spin In addition to announcing that it will respond to U.S. tariffs with more duties on American goods, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said...
Bullish Consensus Grows
It was an interesting week in the markets and it appears the coming weeks and months will also prove to be much more interesting than the last several year...
Market Commentary
Markets traded mixed overnight with corn, wheat and soybeans all trading both sides of unchanged. Corn traded from three higher to one lower. Wheat traded...
Prepare for 90 Days of Congressional Chaos
Congress has a lot to do and a short time to do it. First, the timeline: the fiscal year ends on 30 September, and then about 60 days later, on 6 November,...
India Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Vegetable Oil Imports via South Asian Countries India’s edible vegetable oil imports dropped about 2.23 percent during November 2017-June 2018 to 9.4...
Market Commentary
President Trump has called for 25 percent tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese imports, possibly as early as late September, and this has thrown a we...
Corn Has a Story Too
There are two analytical common threads dominating discussions of the world’s 2018/19 crop cycle thus far. One is the rather spectacular tightening o...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
U.S. – Sino Tipping Point; Market Limits; Japanese Twofer
U.S.-Sino Tipping Point The Trump administration’s plan to increase the proposed Section 301 tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion wo...
Hamming it up in Argentina
USDA Secretary Perdue sliced an American honey-baked ham in Buenos Aires on Tuesday to mark the new market access for U.S. pork in Argentina. He said, &ldq...
Export Sales
According to USDA: Wheat: Net sales of 382,500 MT for 2018/2019 were down 1 percent from the previous week, but up 21 percent from the prior 4-week...
Oilseed Highlights: Brazilian Soy Costs; U.S. Soybean Forecast; Soymeal Market Access in India
Higher Costs and Lower Profits for Brazilian Soybean Farmers in 2019 An analyst at Brazil’s investing banking firm Itaú BBA, Guilherme Bellott...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Market Commentary
Yesterday’s big soybean rally was sponsored by a press report indicating the possibility that the U.S. and China might resume a formal discussion on...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 23-27 July 2018 Wheat and barley export prices grew as the offer was limited. (Quoted prices are for both the 2018 and previous seas...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The wheat market continued to work its way higher while corn and soybeans retreated lower after yesterday’s gains. Nobody seems to know where the whe...
Short- and Long-Term Trends in Soyoil and Biodiesel
On Tuesday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported May biodiesel production of 149 million gallons, 9 million gallon above April and up...
Trump Administration’s Farm Aid Package Could Create Gluts
The Trump administration’s announcement last week of a $12 billion-aid package for struggling farmers impacted by Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Up Slightly but Relatively Stable With the summer maintenance period beginning to wind down, China’s estimated soymeal inv...
Market Commentary
Grain and soy prices firmed overnight as the leading weather models indicated the return of above-normal temperatures and dry conditions to portions of the...
Soybean Exports and the U.S. Economy
Last Friday the Department of Commerce released its initial gross domestic product (GDP) report for Q2 2018, which showed estimated growth of 4.1 percent...
Naha Tug-of-Trade; Corporate Food Fascism; Unpronounceable but Safe; Pleasantly Low Hypoxia
Naha Tug-of-Trade U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi meet next week (9 August)...
Uncertain Times Ahead
We often say that uncertainty is the lifeblood of commodity futures markets. The greater its perceived level, the greater is the degree of price volatility...
Oilseed Highlights: Russia’s Soybean Situation; German Rapeseed; U.S.-China Discussions
Russia’s Growing Soybean Demand, Production and Imports For the past several years, Russia has been working aggressively to expand its domestic produ...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
You knew it had to happen again someday and that day was today. Soybean futures led the CBOT higher (higher!) after reports surfaced that the U.S. and Chin...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS The Moroccan government says that crops for 2017/18 are “exceptional” with grain production...
Soybeans Rise on Rumors of Trade War Talks
November CBOT soybean futures are 21 cents (2.3 percent) higher as the market digests reports from Bloomberg (yet confirmed by WPI or other news sources) t...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
China Rebuts U.S.; Political Pickle; Risk of Piecemeal; G-20; Deal Skepticism and Market Mover
China Rebuts U.S. China’s ambassador to the WTO, Zhang Xiangchen, had clever reactions to the U.S. criticism of his nation’s economic system, b...
A Weather Market 30 Days Late?
Markets started this week on a very strong note. Last week’s rally was mostly the result of concerns about crop production in the EU and Black Sea re...
Diesel Supply Remains Tight
Despite the recent U.S. tariffs slowing two-way trade traffic, the otherwise booming economy has pushed diesel supplies down to their lowest level in 14 ye...
Market Commentary
Markets were higher overnight. They were led again by wheat, which then exploded to gains of 15-20 cents at this morning’s openings. Corn and soybean...
Smile! Corn’s Heading Higher
Beyond acting as a price discovery and risk management tool, options on commodity futures have predictive power. The implied volatility (IV) of an option r...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans The world soybean markets are still dead, including Brazil’s. Chinse demand is covered for August and most of September, leaving potential d...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market is on fire. The reported harvest yields are confirming expectations that they would be 15-20 percent lower than last yea...
The Future Transatlantic Trade War; Japan Bides its Time; Modern Farmers, Go Long
The Future Transatlantic Trade War Following the joint EU-U.S. statement solely asserting the “intention” to negotiate a future trade agreement...
E15 and Small Refinery Waivers Still Unsettled
In Iowa yesterday, President Trump said the administration is “very close” to granting a year-round waiver for E15 usage. This confirms what he...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Market Commentary
Markets were mixed overnight and today. Volume was very light for corn and soybeans but better than average for Chicago wheat. The markets actually t...
More Things to Keep You Up at Night
It’s been an interesting week with the following highlights: - USDA’s $12 billion farm rescue plan (income redistribution) didn’t find ma...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Glut Supply of Milk Prompts GOI to Offer Export Incentive When the state government of Maharashtra reduced the the cooperatives’ purchase price of mi...
Market Commentary
News that the U.S. and the EU pulled back from a potentially escalating trade war gave financial markets a boost late yesterday, and the agreements between...
Ugly Insights on Trump-Juncker Deal
Beans and Gas The EU agreed to buy more soybeans and liquified natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. Nothing reflects the EU better playing Trump for a fool than...
Beef and Trade
Trade isn’t Cattlemen’s Only Beef We’ve covered in detail the administration’s $12 billion plan to stabilize commodity market...
Oilseed Highlights: Europe’s Promise; Brazilian Request; China’s Soymeal Problem; U.S. Soy Export Sales
Europe’s Promise to Import More U.S. Soybeans a Nothingburger When EU President Juncker met with President Trump yesterday to seek a way to avo...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up: Wheat Price Forecast
"Volatility" was the word of the day at the CBOT with wheat futures initially pushing higher before crashing, corn and soybeans moving higher, and the live...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Ag Review - July 2018
WPI's monthly publication features analyses of the U.S. grain industry, U.S. soybean marketing strategies, the U.S. biofuels industry, the global outlook f...
Export Sales
U.S. corn exports deviation from historic patterns has implications for what exports will be in the rest of the marketing year. Analysis of unshipped corn...
The World of Wheat in 2018/19
For countries that supply renewable agricultural commodities to world buyers, a more perfect world occurs during a year when global demand for a particular...
Detailed Devil
The agreement between EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and U.S. President Donald Trump may be like the earlier Kim Jong-un/Donald Trump agreemen...
Market Commentary
The sharp jump in world wheat prices on the back of wheat production losses in Russia, the EU, Australia and elsewhere along with the government’s $1...
Juncker-Trump Tête-à-Tête; Less Bricks in the Wall; Keep the Wall of Bricks; World Trade Status
Juncker-Trump Tête-à-Tête U.S. President Donald Trump opened his meeting with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker today by sayin...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 16-20 July 2018 The domestic grain market was dominated by new crop production. Although harvesting in many regions was interrupted...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Hard times in the European wheat crop sent wheat markets into a buying frenzy that pulled corn higher as well. EU wheat futures closed 2.8 percent higher y...
Crop Ratings Could Drive Soybean Prices
In the most recent NASS Crop Progress report, soybean crop condition ratings rose slightly during the week ending 22 July. Those in the reporting states ra...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Declines Again as Crush Rate Falls With summer in full swing, many soybean crushers have suspended operations for routine season...
Market Commentary
The promised program to aid farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China and others will be $12 billion, according to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue at a pre...
Spinning Trade Mitigation Funds; Trade War Angles; Sorghum Help
Spinning Trade Mitigation Funds USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue originally said he would decide on a trade war bailout package around Labor Day (3 September),...
A Little Corn Export History
USDA raised its estimate of U.S. corn exports in 2017/18 to 2.4 billion bushels in the July WASDE. This increase was based on the large volume of open unsh...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Trading was mixed at the CBOT with soybeans jumping higher on Presidential news of financial aid for farmers and corn declining on excellent conditions rat...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS Egypt has announced that Dubai-based AOS has been removed from the list of wheat sellers on government...
Trade Mitigation Funds
This afternoon USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue had a press briefing about the administration’s package of market stabilization actions intended to addres...
Oilseed Highlights: Chinese Crusher Woes; Pakistan’s Soy Imports; India’s Vegoil Situation…
Chinese Soy Crusher Files for Bankruptcy The Chinese firm Shandong Sunrise Group, a soybean importer and processor as well as an independent petroleum refi...
We Have the Markets Right Where We Want Them
The chatter surrounding the markets today was interesting. The bullish stories discussed the shrinking wheat and feed grain crops in the EU, and that inclu...
Trade Policy This Week; Barriers to Innovation; Building Migratory Pressures
Trade Policy This Week Capitol Hill: Congressional hearings this week on U.S. trade policy under President Trump will offer insights on relative political...
Market Commentary
It was a very quiet Sunday night session across soybeans, wheat and corn. The markets finished with corn up 1 cent, beans steady, Chicago wheat 3 cents hig...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Global soybean markets have been quiet these past few weeks with trading houses very cautious since any agreement between the U.S. and China could...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market is very firm. Demand for Russian wheat is increasing every day, and we hear rumors that even Germany will import some du...
Cattle on Feed and Semi-Annual Cattle Inventory
The cattle on feed inventory set a new record for the month of July at 11.3 million head. The 1 July total was down 300,00 head from the 1 June inventory b...
Subsidiarity Economic Cost; One-Sided Study; War Timeline and Result
Subsidiarity Economic Cost The effort to harmonize rules across the EU helped spawn separatist political movements, including the largest one, Brexit. Now...
Tariffs and Treasury Bonds
Treasury securities are one of the safest investments in times of economic chaos. Proof of that in the havoc over the present trade disputes may be the cur...
Market Commentary
Markets were steady to slightly higher overnight, but the wheat markets took off higher again this morning. KC and Chicago traded gains of 10-15 cents most...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Cattle on Feed
U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 4 Percent. This is the highest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15 million...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Increased Sugarcane Prices a Double Blow for the Sugar Industry As this is an election year, the government must please farmers, the backbone of the Indian...
Wheat Fundamentals Are Getting Stronger
U.S. wheat fundamentals have been improving quickly over the past several months, although this wouldn’t be apparent by looking at prices. Some of th...
Cattle on Feed; Animal Rights Revival
Cattle on Feed Tomorrow USDA will release its monthly Cattle on Feed report. Pre-report estimates from the industry peg the total number of cattle on feed...
Market Commentary
The quietude of yesterday’s grain and soy futures markets continued in the overnight trading session. Volume and price movement were limited with not...
China Hit Worst; IMF Backs Trade Distortions; Realigned Politics; Nut Melk
China Hit Worst Like the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) assessment on a global basis, the Asian Development Bank this week kept its curr...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Corn and soybeans continued their quiet rallies while wheat futures popped higher in a bullish, Russian-weather-fueled trading day. Cattle futures were cau...
Export Sales and Other Matters
In today’s USDA/FAS export sales report for the week ended 12 July, there were a few interesting items deserving of some comment. Among them were the...
Oilseed Highlights: U.S. Soy Export Sales; South Asian and Brazilian Biodiesel; Russia and Soybeans
Higher Week for U.S. Soy Exports Today’s USDA export sales report indicated higher sales last week for U.S. soybeans and soymeal, particularly for th...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Export Sales
Commodity Analytics shows the most recent data for grain export sales and shipments along with historic patterns. Current deviations from historic norms po...
Market Commentary
After featuring active trade and higher prices on Monday and Tuesday, grain and soybean markets paused to catch their breath today. Volume was restrained,...
Trading Barbs; Got Milk?
Trading Barbs WTO: There is a special Agriculture Committee meeting at the WTO next week, and the disparate views of its members are being previewed ahead...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 9-13 July 2018 The domestic grain market was influenced by different trends as new crop production started being traded along with t...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains traded a quiet, mixed session while cattle futures moved sharply higher ahead of this week’s fundamental reports. Hog futures, of course, put...
Crush Margins and Soybean Prices Hinge on Soymeal Demand
The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) reported on Monday that members crushed 159.2 million bushels of soybeans during June, a record for the...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Declines as Crushers Dial Back Activity With the tariff on U.S. soybeans becoming effective on 6 July, feed demand has remained...
Market Commentary
Grain and soy prices firmed overnight, in part because USDA dropped weekly condition ratings for corn and soybeans further than the trade expected. Another...
War Nears End; Neat Meat Thoughts
War Nears End Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said today that if President Trump continues with his “misguided and reckless re...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The fundamentals are kicking in and pulling CBOT products higher. Spotty growing conditions across the Midwest, including reports of both drought and drown...
Corn Crop Questions
It has been a tumultuous three months for grain and soy markets, which have been roiled by the Trump administration’s aggressive “take no priso...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS Egypt’s government is said to be disappointed in the country’s wheat production as it repor...
Further Analysis of the WASDE Forecasts for the Soybean Sector
Last week’s WASDE report made several major changes in USDA’s forecasts for the soybean sector. The most important ones were related to the 25...
Record U.S. Corn and Soybean Yields?
There has been a great deal of conversation over the past several weeks about the possibility that U.S. corn and soybean yields might be much better than c...
Trade War Language and Economic Impacts; Global Realignment; GIs; Africa
Trade War Language Us versus them, me (America First) and we. Donald Trump called the EU a foe this past weekend. He says he meant it in terms of competito...
Market Commentary
Markets traded most of the Sunday night session slightly lower before finishing steady in corn and soybeans but down 2-4 cents in wheat. However, corn and...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Market Overview The first week of the official U.S.-China trade war was very calm. With crush margins currently poor (using Brazilian soybeans), t...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market was weaker during most of last week due to harvest pressure. However, the downtrend was reversed on Thursday after publi...
Cultured Meat
Food definitions are an emerging policy topic. The dairy industry doesn’t like the term soymilk, and the rice industry is concerned about the marketi...
Doing Good to be Bad; Domestic Political Implications of Trade War
Doing Good to Be Bad Four large food companies (Danone, Mars, Nestle and Unilever) have formed the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, which will focus on pr...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Market Commentary
Today is Friday the 13th, and the week ended accordingly. Soybeans were down again overnight and continued lower today. Corn joined soybeans, while wheat w...
India Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Ethanol Policy Changes May Not Ease Pressure on Sugar Sector Immediately Changes in ethanol prices, including that of B-Heavy molasses as an input for maki...
Energy Exports Overview
Not frequently discussed in the turmoil about trade sanctions is the energy sector. The three countries with which the U.S. is currently engaged in trade d...
Things to Watch Going Forward
This week’s USDA WASDE and production estimates were not quite as bearish as they might have been for the following reasons: The corn and soybean yi...
Market Commentary
While awaiting today’s WASDE, grains and soy markets traded a bit higher overnight as they tried to recover at least a small portion of yesterday&rsq...
Oilseed Highlights: July WASDE; U.S. Soy Sales
Key Oilseed Highlights in USDA WASDE Report To say USDA made major changes to its supply and distribution forecasts for the soybean sector in today’s...
Trade like NATO; Europe’s Miscalculations; Hidden Trump Benefits
Trade like NATO U.S. Agricultural Trade Ambassador Gregg Doud says there is a difference between countries willing to make commitments and those actually m...
The July WASDE
Thanks to USDA’s effort to project the effect of the Chinese tariffs on the U.S. soybean supply/demand for 2017/18 and 2018/19 as well as the expecte...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The July WASDE came out bullish corn and wheat while bearish U.S. soybeans. World wheat ending stocks are forecast 4.6 percent less than last year while co...
Mexico Looks to Brazil; Tariff Scorecard; WASDE
Mexico Looks to Brazil Last March Mexico suspended all imports of meat and poultry from Brazil in response to the Carne Fraca meat inspection scandal. This...
Export Sales
Weekly export sales materials are undated with USDA's latest annual estimates for The United States - published 12 July 2018: Those U.S. export estimates a...
WASDE Soyoil
Total global 2018/19 oilseed production is down 1.4 million tons to 592.6 million with a 4.3-million-ton increase for soybean production offset by lower ra...
WASDE Soymeal
Soybean crush for 2018/19 is raised 45 million bushels to 2.045 billion reflecting an increase in projected soybean meal domestic disappearance and exports...
WASDE Soybeans
This month’s U.S. soybean supply and use projections for 2018/19 include lower supplies, lower exports, higher crush, and higher ending stocks. Begin...
WASDE Corn
According to USDA, this month’s 2018/19 U.S. corn outlook is for larger supplies, greater feed and residual use, increased exports, and lower ending...
WASDE Wheat
Projected U.S. 2018/19 wheat supplies are raised 74 million bushels on increased beginning stocks and higher production. Forecast 2018/19 U.S. wheat produc...
Market Commentary
The bell to start the next round of the escalating U.S. trade scuffle with China rang late last evening with news that the Trump administration is preparin...
Not “Impossible;” No Solution at Hand; Phase II; Rebuke, Relief, Retreat; Future of Tech
Not “Impossible” Following the Trump-driven upheaval at last month’s G-7 meeting, no one was surprised when he did the same at this week&...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 2-6 July 2018 Following the usual seasonal trends, domestic grain prices decreased. However, they fell at a less dramatic rate than...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
It was a day of red at the CBOT with corn and soybeans marking new contract lows and Chicago wheat breaking below key support. MGEX HRS wheat found support...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Palm Oil Falls Due to Large Stocks but Recovery Possible
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s (MPOB’s) monthly report indicated that stocks rose in June following contra-seasonal decreases over the last fiv...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventory Climbs Higher Ahead of Tariffs Continuing the trend that began in the second week of June, China’s crushing companies stea...
Market Commentary
Overnight trading pushed corn and soybean prices mildly lower with more pronounced weakness in wheat. Good weather, high weekly crop condition ratings and...
Cash Distortions; War on Vocabulary; Economic Growth Factors
Cash Distortions The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled today that olive imports from Europe are injuring domestic producers. Antidumping/countervai...
The Economy and SNAP
The thorniest political problem yet in completing a farm bill conference between the House and Senate this summer is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
A Few Odds and Ends
Following are a few thought-provoking items: The corn, soybean and spring wheat crops are off to a great start despite weather that has not been ent...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grain and oilseed markets were mixed/lower today with wheat futures crumbling, corn posting new contract lows, and soybeans unable to establish market dire...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS Hoboob, the Syrian grain agency, has reportedly bought 200,000 MT of soft wheat at $195/MT CNF. The sal...
Finding Alternate Export Markets for U.S. Soybeans
With the trade war officially underway, China is now assessing a 28 percent duty on imports of U.S. soybeans (the 25 percent retaliatory tariff plus the 3...
USDA Will Increase Ending Supplies Thursday
USDA will release its updated U.S. and world production estimates at 12 p.m. (EDT) Thursday. Those for U.S. corn and soybeans will be larger than in the pr...
Trade War Hyperbole; Merkel’s Marshall Mush
Trade War Hyperbole Equity markets around the world traded higher today even as pundits and newspaper headlines wailed about the trade war. Beijing will ge...
Market Commentary
The trade worries won’t go away. Even though markets ignored the imposition of tariffs last Friday, they were back to selling today in relatively lig...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Crop Program Issues in Farm Bill Conference
The House and Senate will appoint conferees to the farm bill conference committee this week and begin work on a compromise final version. Based on Congress...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans As has been widely reported, the U.S. imposed tariffs on specific Chinese imports on 6 July, and China reciprocated with retaliatory tariffs on so...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The price of Russian and Ukrainian wheat for July/August shipment remained about unchanged last week. Offers for deferred positions are diffi...
Policy Overview
As Congress returns from the 4th of July recess next week, the House will be in session for three weeks prior to the August break. However, the Senate is (...
War Update – Elites Panic, Others Don’t
U.S. agriculture dislikes being the tip of the spear in Donald Trump’s trade war fight, but the industry’s intermediaries in Washington are far...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Market Commentary
U.S. soybean, corn and wheat markets finished the night session up 1-2 cents despite the U.S./China trade war becoming a reality overnight. However, the so...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Ban on Yellow Pea Imports Extended for Three Months India’s Ministry of Commerce has extended the ban on yellow pea imports, first implemented in lat...
Post-Tariff Support Floods Soybean Market
Buying support is flooding into the soybean market an hour before the closing bell on a day that saw the official start of the U.S.-China trade war. Novemb...
“D-Day” for Tariffs
Today is D-Day for the imposition of tariffs, and the U.S. implemented them on $34 billion worth of goods from China. That country then quickly followed su...
Export Sales
Changes in U.S. market share for global soyoil exports, along with those of soymeal, are analyzed. Results offer insight into the opportunities U.S. export...
Market Commentary
Today’s post-holiday market was not the frenzied affair that sometimes follows the 4th of July. There was no overnight session (due to the holiday),...
Tariffs, but It’s NTBs; Measuring War; Other Distortions; Bye-Bye Pruitt
Tariffs, but It’s NTBs Additional retaliatory tariffs were applied by Mexico today, and another round of U.S. tariffs will be applied to China at the...
ESA Reform; Cattle Traceability
Endangered Species Act Reform On 2 July, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) introduced the Endangered S...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Commodity Prices and Demand
Today is T-Day minus one, which is another way of saying that tomorrow, 6 July, is when the U.S. will impose 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chi...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains and oilseed markets defied their traditional post-4th of July fireworks and simply did nothing today. Wheat was the exception, rising 20 cents, whil...
Oilseed Highlights: India’s Higher MSP; Soy Updates for Brazil and China
India Raises Minimum Support Price for Oilseeds and Other Crops The government of India (GOI)yesterday announced new higher minimum support prices (MSPs) f...
Happy 4th of July
Please note that Ag Perspectives will not be published tomorrow in observance of the 4th of July holiday in the United States. We will resume ou...
July WASDE Accounting for Tariffs
USDA will release its monthly WASDE report next week on 12 July. This will be the first to include the tariffs in effect on U.S. ag exports to Canada and M...
Market Commentary
CME grain and soy markets closed early today for the U.S. holiday and will not reopen until 9:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday. They are often quite volatile on the...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Trade Tops Weather
Aside from being the U.S. Independence Day holiday, the 4th of July is traditionally considered to be a key point in the development of spring-planted crop...
Agro-Energy Trade Remedy; Migration and Trade Solution; Strange Bedfellows; Cotton Subsidization
Agro-Energy Trade Remedy U.S. agriculture is being hurt by retaliation from other countries that have been targeted by the Trump administration’s tra...
Oilseed Highlights: Chinese Soybean Imports; PNW Soy Exports; EU Feed Production
Is China Preparing to Reduce Total Soybean Imports? USDA is currently forecasting China’s 2018/19 soybean imports at 103 MMT, up from 97 MMT in 2017/...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS It is reported in Egypt that 45,000 MT of Russian wheat were seized from local storage due to infestati...
Carter in 1980 and Trump in 2018?
In January 1980, President Carter decided to punish Russia for invading Afghanistan. That action left U.S. grain companies holding sales on the books to Ru...
Some Worldview Components
NAFTA: Mexico elected leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador as president. He promises to make his country more self-sufficient in food, but his...
Market Commentary
Markets were steady to slightly higher in the Sunday night session, but that steady pattern disappeared when the markets opened this morning with steep los...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Brazil After a few quiet weeks, demand from China moved again. Much improved gross crushing margins there (above $25/MT) prompted crushers to buy...
Farm Bill: Next Stop is Conference Committee
The Senate passed the farm bill late last Thursday night by a vote of 86-11 with bipartisan support. In fact, more Democrats than Republicans voted for it...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market remained about unchanged last week after several consecutive weeks of declining prices. The Russian crop is estimated to...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Transatlantic Paeans; Soya-Surprise
EU leaders made great strides yesterday in their efforts to deal with a multitude of challenges, although few of the outcomes appear to be a panacea. Refug...
Hogs and Pigs Report
USDA released its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report yesterday, confirming herd expansion and containing a number of records. The total inventory of hogs and p...
Market Commentary
Markets traded just slightly better overnight and found additional buying ahead of the USDA reports this morning. Wheat markets led the pre-report rally, t...
Some USDA Surprises
USDA released its revised acreage and 1 June quarterly stocks estimates at 12 p.m.(EDT) today. The acreage numbers for corn and spring wheat were slightly...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Falling Rupee and Higher Input Costs Make Agriculture a Tough Choice Two developments that the government of India (GOI) had not anticipated are higher cru...
Market Commentary
It is the last full trading day before the sometimes-eventful June planting and quarterly stocks report. Based on the average trade estimates of acreage an...
Fixing Farm Supports; Not Stumbling; Saving GMOs; De-Globalization
Fixing Farm Supports The best defense is an offense, and China and India are demanding that the rich countries reduce their farm support payments. The dema...
Trump Promises Aid, But How?
6 July is the date when the U.S. will impose its first round of tariffs on imports from China and that country will retaliate with its own 25 percent tarif...
Oilseed Highlights: High-Protein Soy; China’s Soyoil Auction, EU and Chinese Soy Imports...
Biotech Company to Develop High-Protein Soybeans and Other Crops Amfora, a San Francisco-based biotech company, today announced it is going to employ a pat...
Summary of Futures
Ag, energy, and soft commodity futures’ technical patterns, including momentum and long-term indicators, are examined. Changes in the forward curve f...
Export Sales
U.S. corn exports deviation from historic patterns has implications for what exports will be in the rest of the marketing year. Analysis of unshipped corn...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains traded quietly today with few traders willing to take, or build upon, positions ahead of Friday’s reports. Livestock futures were higher on sh...
Ag Review - June 2018
WPI's monthly publication features analyses of the U.S. grain industry, U.S. soybean marketing strategies, the U.S. meat industry, the global outlook for f...
Pending Hogs and Pigs Report; China Impact
Hogs and Pigs Report Coming USDA will release its quarterly hogs and pigs inventory report after trading closes today. The inventory as of 1 June is...
Market Commentary
After having announced them earlier, the Trump administration late Tuesday apparently decided not to impose special restrictions on Chinese investments in/...
Trade Fight Dustup; Transshipping Adds Cost; Wetlands Reform
Trade Fight Dustup Constituencies impacted by retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries are starting to doubt the wisdom of Trump trade policy. The bu...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 18-22 June 2018 Domestic prices were influenced by the first offers of 2018 grain entering the market, mainly winter barley. However...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
CBOT products bounced higher today as the Trump Administration confirmed it is backing away from new restrictions in investment and intellectual property p...
China In-Country Analysis
Oilseeds Soymeal Inventories Surge Significantly Across China Soymeal stocks rose significantly countrywide except for a drop of 6,900 MT (-8.36 percent) t...
Market Commentary
Overnight trading was a quiet, low volume affair with only limited price changes for grains and the soy complex. As the day session progressed, however, wh...
Biofuel Standards and the Farm Bill Move Forward Today
It has been a busy policy day for agriculture with the EPA’s release of the proposed biofuel volumes for 2019 and the Senate taking up the farm bill...
Ag Subsidies Reform; EPA Disappoints; Interstate Wreck
Ag Subsidies Reform China and India are asking the WTO to immediately reduce the Amber Box agricultural subsidies that have been historically utilized by t...
Market Factors Ahead
As always, grain and soy markets along with those who trade in those commodities are looking ahead at several factors with the potential to move prices. Cu...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Grains markets were mostly steady/weaker today with soybeans and wheat falling once again and corn posting small gains. There is growing harvest pressure i...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS At least 10 shipments of wheat (totaling 170,000 MT) have been delivered to Syria over the past 10 mont...
Oilseed Highlights: China’s Tariffs; Brazil’s Soy Area; U.S. Biodiesel, India’s Soybeans; Ukrainian Rapeseed
China Eliminates Animal Feed Tariffs for Five Countries The Chinese government announced today that it will eliminate tariffs on imports of soybeans, soyme...
Disparate Adjustments; Hug a Farmer; Losers and the Outlook
Disparate Adjustments Trade uncertainty is hitting everyone. China will reportedly flush its state-owned enterprises with cash, which may not improve their...
More Things to Keep You Up at Night
USDA’s July estimate of U.S. hard red winter wheat production will likely be lower. We (and others) assume the Kansas harvested acreage number will b...
Market Commentary
Markets were all lower overnight, and that pattern accelerated throughout today’s session with wheat, corn and soybeans all suffering big losses at t...
Cattle on Feed
The 1 June cattle on feed (COF) inventory set a new June record at 11.6 million head. That was down slightly from the previous month, which was the second-...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Brazil Brazil’s soybean market was quiet last week compared with after the U.S.-China trade war announcement when buyers became nervous and...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market was weaker last week due to the approaching harvest and pressure on the futures markets in the EU and U.S. The weather i...
Battlefront Reporting; Technical Limits; Poopy Water; Migrant Pressures
Battlefront Reporting Another day and more news on the trade war front. On the first day of new retaliatory tariffs by the EU on U.S. goods, German automak...
Market Commentary
It was a peaceful night session with corn and wheat showing very little change. Meanwhile, soybeans were 7-8 cents higher with meal up $2.00-3.00. Markets...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Cattle on Feed
United States Cattle on Feed on June 1, 2018 was up 4 percent above year ago. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter in U.S. feedlots with capac...
RVOs and Reallocation
This could be the day the EPA issues the Required Volume Obligations (RVOs) proposal for ethanol use in 2019 and biodiesel use in 2020. It would be subject...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Falling Soymeal Prices May Move Up if Exports Continue Soybean and soymeal prices moved lower last week but had some upward movement near its end, and they...
No NAFTA Yet Either
Markets have been obsessed with the failure of the U.S. and China to reach any sort of agreement regarding their trade dispute. In fact, it’s not eve...
Market Commentary
Welcome to summer! Led by soybeans, which eased about 6 cents lower, trading during the overnight session found prices with a lower bias. The grains were m...
Trade War Endgame; Laudable Reorg; Mixt
Trade War Endgame Starting the trade war was “easy” for Mr. Trump, sustaining it will become more difficult for domestic political reasons. Tha...
Cattle on Feed; Compact Comeback?
Cattle on Feed Industry pre-report estimates for tomorrow’s Cattle on Feed report from USDA peg the total number of cattle on feed as of 1 June...
Oilseed Highlights: Palm Oil Prices; U.S. Soy Export Sales; Brazil’s Soy Exports
Falling Palm Oil Prices Reach Two-Year Low Palm oil prices are declining because of anemic demand and the market turmoil caused by the U.S.-China trade dis...
Does Corn Have a Story to Tell?
Grain and soy markets are almost totally consumed by trade disruption and the latest trade war threats voiced in Washington and Beijing. They note retaliat...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
Markets paused today to reassess the probable outcomes of the U.S.-China trade war. Corn and wheat found some buying support while soybeans remained on the...
Export Sales
Commodity Analytics shows the most recent data for grain export sales and shipments along with historic patterns. Current deviations from historic norms po...
Market Commentary
After trade war fears sank grain and soy futures yesterday, the overnight session opened cautiously. Prices edged a bit higher, but trading was tentative a...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 11-15 June 2018 Domestic grain prices were influenced by the near beginning of the new season. Although the formation of new prices...
Summary of Futures
Changes in Commodity Analytics’ short-term technical indicators for grain futures should be carefully examined against long-term signals. Elsewhere,...
Closing Bell Wrap-Up
The Closing Bell Wrap-Up has finally returned from traveling the past few weeks. And what an exciting few weeks it has been. Trump and China started playin...
Predictable Trade War; Owed Freebies; Jurisdictional Meat; Sweet Natural Duplicity
Predictable Trade War After the Shanghai Composite Index plunged in value, the headlines say that the Chinese were “caught off guard” by Presid...
China In-Country Analysis
Policy Developments Will China Ultimately Retaliate? Coming on the heels of President Trump’s announcement last week confirming that his administrati...
Market Commentary
Soybean and grain futures prices were lower to open the overnight session, and losses grew as trading progressed into the early morning. Understandably, so...
Looking Ahead at the China Trade Dispute
Yesterday President Trump asked the U.S. Trade Representative to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percen...
Summary of Futures
Changes in energy products’ recent price behavior point to potential trading opportunities. Similarly, the momentum indicators in grains show opportu...
Trade War Havoc
Trade wars invariably involve government actions intended to impede, punish or prevent imports and exports of goods between two or more countries. The most...
Oilseed Highlights: Chinese Tariff Impact on Upper Midwest; India’s Soyoil Tariff
Chinese Tariffs Impact on Upper Midwest Soybean Farmers Barring a settlement to the current trade dispute, China is expected to impose a 25 percent tariff...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS As part of its budget control measures, Egypt has announced price increases of 35-40 percent for gasoli...
Illogical War; Illogical Reparations; Precaution or Hysteria?; Relations and Wars
Illogical War One can imagine more sophisticated approaches to rebalancing trade concessions than the one undertaken by the Trump administration. The presi...
China Tariffs and U.S. Exports
The imposition of trade tariffs on imports from China and that country’s corresponding retaliation against imports from the U.S. have had a profoundl...
Fed Gets Less Dovish
As expected, the Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds rate last week by another 25 basis points to a target range...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Impact of the U.S.-China Trade War Trading was slow in Brazil last week with an old-crop basis rally due to lack of farmer selling and news on the...
Market Commentary
Corn and wheat opened lower Sunday with soybeans slightly higher. Everything was slightly lower by the time markets closed this morning, and that is how th...
Summary of Futures
Recent price activity for ag, energy, and soft commodities is examined in tabular and graphical format. The most important price analysis is distilled for...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market had a weaker tone last week with the new crop harvest approaching and as export commitments for the first quarter of the...