An anomaly since COVID disrupted supply chains is that the price of rice has been more stable than other food staples such as corn and wheat.
One argument for this is that a far smaller share of total rice production is traded, making it less subject to global supply/demand volatility.
This runs counter to arguments that a diversified supply chain means that a production problem in one area is remedied by surplus supplies arriving from elsewhere. Historically, the prices for these three food staples have correlated. However, rice has itself encountered periods in which its price has proved an outlier. In 2008, it reached high levels relative to wheat due to a supply shortage. In 2002 and 2013, rice farmers were exasperated...
Grains posted strong gains today, putting the bulls firmly in the driver’s seat. There was no shortage of fuel for the move, with three W’s driving the rally: weather, war and worry. Weather: Cooler temperatures are temporarily easing stress across the Northern Plains and Midwest, b...
Key Takeaways: Global and U.S. cotton demand has struggled since the post-COVID-19 pandemic surge, which has left cotton prices drifting lower in the U.S. The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, along with their impact on global energy markets, could boost cotton demand...
Key Takeaways: Persistent labor shortages are increasing operational challenges and costs across U.S. agriculture, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as specialty crops, dairy, and meat processing. Immigrant workers, including H-2A employees, remain essential to the agricultural work...
Russian Grain Markets: 13–17 July 2026 New-crop trading dominated the Russian grain market during the week as old-crop business largely came to an end. Most transactions shifted to new-crop supplies, establishing new price ranges across the market. Bearish sentiment prevailed across most...
