Frontrunner

Persistent dryness across many of the primary corn growing regions of Brazil is continuing to stress late drilled corn crops and impact their yield potential. In April, the estimate from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the Brazilian corn crop was at 109 million tonnes, but analysts see the lack of rain taking at least nine million tonnes from that crop potential. If the dryness continues, there are concerns that the crop could fall to as little as 90 million tonnes. These significant losses amidst increasing Chinese buying will push additional demand to US supplies, with the US exportable surplus already sold out. This has encouraged increased speculative buying and seen Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn futures rise by over 40% since the end of March. CBOT corn futures have risen to their highest level in eight years and for the first time since July 2013, the near contract position has overtaken wheat.

Wheat and corn futures continued to drive higher earlier this week, setting new contract highs. US markets reached their highest level for eight years and Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn futures pushed above $7/bu – a level double their contract low. New crop London wheat futures at their highest had risen over this month by an impressive £35/t. Higher European futures markets reflected concerns for both winter and spring crops following the prolonged period of dry weather and, in places, record low April temperatures impacting on most of northern Europe. However, with strong speculative buying, futures markets had become technically overbought and were overdue a correction. Forecasts for much needed rain seemed to be the trigger for a wave of profit-taking which drove markets sharply lower during the second half of the week. Upbeat wheat production prospects for Romania were another negative element. Romania’s enthusiasm to sell new crop wheat was highlighted in the tender held by Egypt this week.

Persistent cold dry weather affecting much of the US and Western Europe coupled with ongoing Chinese demand drove wheat and corn markets sharply higher this week. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat futures have gained over 8% since last Friday’s close and are trading over $7 per bushel, bringing them to their highest level since May 2014. European new crop wheat futures have been equally impressive, setting new contract highs. London November 2021 wheat futures are now £26/t above their end of March low.US winter wheat crop ratings were unchanged on the week with 53% rated ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ which is four points below last year. However, subsequent reports from Oklahoma of frost-damaged winter wheat helped galvanise speculative buying. Corn planting reached 8%, which is average for this time of year, but the cold US weather conditions are seen delaying crop establishment and yield potential, therefore adding more demand for depleted old crop supplies. Record low April temperatures coupled with a lack of rain is increasingly concerning for wheat crop production potential in Western Europe.

Wheat markets continued to rise this week, reacting to increasing concerns for wheat crops as dry and very cold weather persists in Western Europe and parts of the US. The latest US drought monitor maps show an increasing area of extreme drought now impacting on over three-quarters of major spring wheat state, North Dakota. However, spring wheat drilling in the state achieved 8% completion by 11th April compared to the 2% average for this time of year. Nationally, spring drilling is 11% complete compared to the 6% average. Dry cold conditions remain in the forecast and US spring wheat futures rallied to new contract highs this week. In contrast, the central southern plains are due rain which will benefit winter crops. The condition of winter wheat crops remains unchanged at 53% rated ‘good’ to ‘excellent’. Record low April temperatures have been prevalent in France and the UK. How damaging this has been for cereal crops remains to be seen. With more dry weather forecast for Western Europe, new crop wheat futures rallied to new contract highs. London new crop wheat futures have added a significant £15/t to their values since their lowest point in March, bringing them now to their highest values this season.

On Wednesday 31ST March, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its quarterly US stock and acreage report. It contained bullish data for corn that triggered a sharp price rally for Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn futures, sending them to new contract highs; the highest level seen since 2013. Despite the report having bearish wheat data, wheat futures followed corn futures higher, ending the recent slide in prices that had dropped to a three-month low prior to the report.In recent weeks, analysts have been very upbeat about US famers reacting to high corn prices and significantly increasing the corn area they plant this spring. Estimates have been as high as 94 million acres compared to 90.8 million acres last year. At its Outlook Forum in February, the USDA saw US farmers planting 92 million acres of corn. Average trade guesses before the report were 93.28 million acres. However, in the report, the USDA has revised its estimate with only a small increase on the year, bringing the new predicted acreage to 91.144 million acres. Using trend line yield data, this would leave 2021 US production short of expected domestic and export demand, cutting stocks and leaving a bullish outlook. US quarterly corn stocks estimates were also bullish, seen at 7.701 billion bushels, which is below average trade guesses and down 3% on the year.

World wheat markets have fallen again this week and have now effectively lost all the price gains they made in 2021. London wheat futures fell to their lowest level since the 17th December. In January, fears that Russia would close the door on wheat exports saw Black Sea export prices soar to £300/t free on board (FOB), before including freight costs. Buyers are now harder to find and traders’ offers were reported to have fallen to $250/t searching for demand. Prices have fallen sharply despite strong exports to date for the world’s major producers. Weekly wheat export sales for the US were 344,000 tonnes, taking the season’s total sold to almost 93% of the surplus estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is just ahead of average at this time of year. From this point, sales only need to average 80,000 tonnes per week to hit the estimate. US weekly corn sales included the 3.8 million tonnes that China bought last week, bringing the total sold to just over 4.6 million tonnes. Over 98% of the USDA’s estimated surplus is sold, which is 25 points on the average at this time. If just 1% of last week’s sales are made each week to the end of the season, the USDA target will be exceeded.