Factors Driving the Sugar Price Surge Sugar prices have reached an 11-year high, with raw sugar prices at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) experiencing a 37% increase since January. The peak of 27.41 cents per pound last week can be attributed to short-term supply tightness and concerns over the potential impact of the El Nino climate … Read more
Soybean and palm oil prices have continued to rise, despite lower oil prices, as traders anticipate increased imports by China and India. In the context of the US Fed’s interest rate increase to 5-5.25% and an expected recession in the US economy, traders have turned to agricultural assets as a more attractive investment. This article … Read more
The Dominance of Ukrainian Oilseeds in EU Market In the 2022/23 marketing year, Ukraine emerged as the leading supplier of sunflower seeds, rapeseed, sunflower meal, sunflower, and soybean oil to the European Union. This significant import increase, up 68% from the previous season to 9.8 million tons, reshaped the EU’s import landscape for oilseeds. The … Read more
Fed’s Interest Rate Hike Plans Impact Commodity Markets The US Federal Reserve’s plan to raise interest rates by 25 basis points above 5% to curb inflation is causing a ripple effect in stock and commodity markets, decreasing speculative demand and prices for oil and other commodities like grains and oilseeds. The move to increase interest … Read more
EU Rapeseed Production Forecast Revised Upwards Strategie Grains experts have revised their EU rapeseed production forecast for 2023, increasing it from 19.5 to 20 million tonnes compared to April estimates. This boost in production is attributed to favorable weather conditions across most of Europe, which surpasses the previous year’s output of 19.4 million tonnes. The … Read more
In April 2023, grain exports from Ukraine experienced a decline compared to March, from 5.34 million tons to 3.62 million tons. Although this still surpasses the 923,000 tons shipped in April 2022, when all Black Sea ports were blocked due to Russian aggression, the challenges posed by the blockage of the grain corridor and EU … Read more
High Planting Rates in the US As of April 23, the US had planted 14% of its planned corn area, compared to 7% last year and an average of 11% over the past five years, according to NASS USDA. Dry and warm weather is expected in the next 7-10 days, which will likely accelerate the … Read more
Cold and Rainy Weather Affecting Crop Growth in Major Exporting Countries The current weather conditions in major grain exporting countries of the Northern Hemisphere have led to delays in planting spring crops but have improved winter crop conditions. Meanwhile, Brazil and Argentina are experiencing a decrease in precipitation, allowing for the completion of soybean and … Read more
The Impact of Weather Conditions on Crop Production The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) anticipates a 26% reduction in Australia’s wheat harvest for the 2023/24 financial year, decreasing to 29 million tons. Favorable weather conditions during the sowing of winter cereals contributed to seedling establishment and early plant development. However, the drought predicted for the … Read more
The European Commission’s Agreement on Limiting Grain Exports from Ukraine The European Commission (EC) recently reached an agreement with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria to limit the supply of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower, while providing €100 million in aid to affected farmers. This decision was made to address the concerns of grain … Read more