PM markets: traders weigh European drought, US rains 

Wheat prices in the Chicago and Paris saw early gains, helped by fears that time is running out for much needed rains in Europe and North Africa, but the rallies failed later in the day, as a strong forecast was issued for Argentine production next season.

Investors are starting to get jumpy about European and North African prospects.

“Markets are getting nervous regarding EU moisture with risks of crop damage should it continue through May,” said CRM AgriCommodities.

“Rainfall across western Europe is at 30% of normal levels in places which is causing concern for both spring plantings and winter crops,” CRM said.

“Prospects for Rainfall across UK/ France and Spain over next 10 days remain limited, with Germany forecast relief within the next 6-10 days.”

North African dryness

There are similar concerns in North Africa, Kyle Tapley at MDA Weather Services.

“Rainfall has been well below normal across the wheat areas in North Africa over the past several weeks,” Mr Tapley said.

“The dryness is most significant across Morocco and western Algeria, where it has not rained for nearly a month.”

“This dryness is leading to notable stress on the wheat crop in these areas,” Mr Tapley said.  “Even in eastern Algeria and Tunisia, where it has not been as dry, some crop stress is likely.”

“Light showers are expected by the weekend, but Mr Tapley said the rain “should lead to only minor improvements for wheat”.

Heavy stocks weigh

But the rally failed to hold, under pressure from heavy world supplies.

Prices were pressured by a recovering dollar, which is bearish for export prospects, as well as a forecast for rising wheat production in Argentina.

The Buenos Aires Grains Exchange forecast that Argentine farmers will plant 5.5m hectares with wheat and harvest 17.5m tonnes, compared with 16.3m tonnes in the previous season.

May wheat futures in Paris finished down 0.2% on the day, at E165.25 a tonne.

May Chicago wheat futures finished down 0.8%, at $4.19 a bushel.

US corn sowing outlook still mixed

Corn markets are still weighing up the effect of a wet weather system moving across the US Midwest, and its potential effect on already-lagging corn sowings.

“Showers will spread across the Midwest today and tomorrow, preventing any significant corn planting progress,” said Kyle Tapley, at MDA Weather Services.

But Mr Tapley noted that “drier weather is expected across Nebraska, Iowa, northern Illinois, and northern Indiana for Friday through the middle of next week, providing a five-day stretch of favourable planting weather in the heart of the corn belt, which should allow corn planting to make good progress during that time”.

“Elsewhere, however, the outlook is less rosy for planting efforts,” Mr Tapley said.

“Temperatures will briefly turn colder this weekend in the Midwest, but should rebound next week, favoring germination of crops,” he said.

Big ethanol stocks

Ethanol futures eased, as the US Energy Information Administration reported weekly ethanol stocks up by 131,000 barrels, to 23.03m barrels.

Ethanol output was reported up 7,000 barrels per day, to 131,000 barrels per day.

Ethanol futures were down 0.4%, at $1.6 a gallon.

May corn futures finished the day unchanged, at $3.61 ¾ a bushel.

Chinese import hopes support soybeans

But soybean prices were supported by hopes of higher Chinese imports.

“China have cut the VAT rate on agricultural products by 2% to 11% which is expected to support soybean imports and supported prices in this afternoon’s trade,” said CRM.

May soybean futures finished up 0.4%, at $9.46 a bushel.

Technical selling in coffee…

Arabica coffee markets saw a rapid technical sell-off late in the day, after the best-traded July contract fell back below the 50-day day moving average, which it passed for the first time in nearly two months last session.

July arabica coffee futures settled down 3.4%, at 140.65 cents a pound.

July robusta futures settled down 0.7%, at $2,174 a tonne.

…and cocoa

And cocoa prices in New York also fell sharply, hitting their lowest price in nearly a decade, after breaking through recent lows.

Markets are waiting for North American grind data out on Thursday, which may show consumption remaining sluggish despite lower prices.

July New York cocoa settled down 2.2%, at $1,873 a tonne, a nine-and-a-half year low.

Source: Agrimoney

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