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Agricultural Commodities

What Drives Soybean Prices: El Niño, Geopolitics, or SeasonalityEl Niño means little boy in Spanish. The fishermen in Latin America observed periods of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean in the 1600s around Christmas. El Niño can cause 50% variation in local weather in regions growing essential crops like beans, corn, and coffee. Soybean is a giant in global trade. It ranks among the top comprising more than 10% of the total value traded annually. Soybean is used for edible oils, biofuels, and livestock feed. This paper introduces the impact of El Niño on bean prices, geopolitical risk in beans given its idiosyncratic market structure, and seasonality. Medium to longer term impact on bean prices will be dictated by severity of weather, demand, and energy prices. However, in the near term, record Brazilian output and ongoing harvests in China, India, Russia, Ukraine, and Canada will weigh down on bean prices. To gain from weakening prices, this paper posits a hypothetical short position in CME Soybean Futures expiring in November 2023 (ZSX2023) with an entry at USc 1296/bushel combined with a target at USc 1188/bushel and hedged by a stop at USc 1368/bushel, delivering an expected reward-to-risk ratio of 1.5x. EL NIÑO IS A RECURRING CLIMATE PHENEMENON El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climate phenomenon which has significant global impact on precipitation and temperature. ENSO is the result of the natural cyclical interaction between equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) and the atmosphere. These interactions lead to climate fluctuations across more than 60% of the world. ENSO has a major effect on rainfall and temperature variation. In some regions, such as those closest to the tropical pacific, ENSO can result in 50% of the total variation in local weather. These regions are often the most essential for important crops like bean, corn, and coffee. These interactions oscillate between warming and cooling periods leading to the ENSO cycle plotted below. The pattern recurs every two to seven years. Notably, the frequency of the ENSO cycle and the intensity of its effects have increased over the last fifty years due to global warming. As a result, ENSO has an outsized influence on global economy given its potency of delivering shocks to agriculture. El Niño are periods of warm ocean temperatures (highlighted in red) in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific regions. La Niña are periods with cooler ocean temperatures (marked in green above) in Central and Eastern Pacific zones. Periods with no major deviation from average Sea Surface Temperature (SST) are considered normal weather conditions. Each El Niño or La Niña phase persists for two years on average. However, a longer-than-expected phase of El Niño (like the one in 2015) can lead to a much more significant impact on agricultural markets owing to larger drawdown on inventories. THE BEAN IS EXPOSED TO GEOPOLITICS The Americas comprise >80% of total global production. Top producers are Brazil, the US, Paraguay, and Argentina. These nations are also the top bean exporters. China is world's largest importer. It mops up 60% of global import demand. Beans in China is primarily used to feed its massive livestock population. Unlike staple grains, the bean industry is highly centralized given the structure of the sea-borne market. Consequently, they are prone to shocks from disruptions such as trade restrictions and geo-politics. In 2017, soybean was caught in the crossfire in US-China tariff war. Back then, China placed a 25% tariff on beans imported from the US. This drove demand for Brazilian soybeans as the US ones were rendered expensive for Chinese importers. The trade friction adversely impacted the US, to an extent that is feltto this day. Since then, US exports have been far lower while Brazilian exports have gradually expanded. It has also led to structural shifts in bean usage. SEASONALITY IS PREDICTABLE IN BEAN PRICE BEHAVIOUR As previously published , seasonality in beans is driven by the harvest cycle. North American crop is harvested between September and November while South America harvests from March to June. Bean prices decline after harvesting cycles. Distinct price patterns can be discerned by analysing seasonality. Prices rise through the first half of the year from January to June as inventories deplete. Then, they rapidly decline following harvesting in Argentina and Brazil. EL NIÑO FAVORABLY IMPACTS BEANS El Niño’s effect on beans is consistent. Usually, extreme weather typically creates havoc to crop and crop yield. But not so in the case of soybeans. Interestingly, research shows that El Niño favourably impacts American soybeans farmers leading to a 3.5% increase in yield on average. Increased rainfall and lower temperature in the Americas caused by El Niño explains this favourable weather impact on the crop. As Weston Anderson, et al. highlight , the impact is most significant during peak El Niño which is expected next year. While American farmers benefit from benign weather, Asian growers suffer adverse effects of El Niño, resulting in declining yield and production in Asia. OUTLOOK FOR BEANS Taking into consideration the drivers outline as above, larger harvest is expected in Brazil in 2024. In 2023, Argentinian harvest was significantly smaller due to unfavourable weather, and this is expected to recover back to its usual levels. The USDA is forecasting a larger harvest in China in 2024. However, peak El Niño could negatively impact Chinese crop leading to spike in import demand. Seasonal trends point to a winter rally in bean prices ahead. However, historical analysis shows that El Niño years result in a higher-than-average yield in soybean. Combining the effect of (a) record Brazilian output, plus (b) El Niño fuelled greater yields leading to abundant harvest in 2024, the higher-than-average yield in soybean could cause a potential glut. Bean oversupply will cut short a winter price rally. Worse still, a glut could make the post-harvest price crash next year much more severe. SIGNALS FOR BEAN PRICES FROM DERIVATIVES MARKETS The commitment of trader’s report points to declining net long positions by managed money inching towards lows observed during May earlier this year. Even the options market hints at bearish slant with put-call ratio at 1.13x within rising open interest build up in puts in the near term. Since mid-September, data from CFTC shows that bean options traders are positioning themselves against fall in prices as they have added 18,079 lots in puts versus 13,090 lots in calls. HYPOTHETICAL TRADE SET UP With more harvests coming onstream, soybean prices will come under increasing downward pressure in the near term. To gain from crumbling bean prices, a hypothetical short position in CME Soybean Futures expiring in November ( ZSX2023 ) with an entry at USc 1296/bushel and a target at USc 1188/bushel, hedged by a stop at USc 1368/bushel is expected to deliver a reward-to-risk ratio of 1.5x. Each soybean futures contract provides exposure to 5,000 bushels (~136 metric tons) and is quoted in US cents per bushel. Each tick represents one-fourth of a cent (USc 0.25) per bushel resulting in USD12.50 in P&L. • Entry: 1296 • Target: 1188 • Stop: 1368 • Profit-at-Target (hypothetical): USD 5,400 (1296 – 1188 = 108; 432 ticks x 12.50 = 5,400) • Loss-at-Stop (hypothetical): USD 3,600 (1296 – 1368 = -72; -288 ticks x 12.50 = -3,600) • Reward-to-Risk (hypothetical): 1.5x REFERENCES Nature ScienceDirect MARKET DATA CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com DISCLAIMER This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
CBOT:ZS1!Short
by mintdotfinance
2
DWARIKESH SUGAR - SWING TRADING FOR 10-15 DAYS" PARALLEL CHANNEL BREAK OUT " High Volume Based Entry level - 98-100 SL - 90 (with previous candle below level) Targets - 107,113,118+ Market Capitalization of Dwarikesh Sugar stock is Rs 1,923.50 Cr. #DWARIKESHSUGAR Disclaimer - All information on this page is for educational purposes only, we are not SEBI Registered, Please consult a SEBI registered financial advisor for your financial matters before investing And taking any decision. We are not responsible for any profit/loss you made. Request your support and engagement by liking and commenting & follow to provide encouragement HAPPY TRADING 👍
NSE:DWARKESH
by Jagadheesh_JP
29
Coffee: Caffeine's about to hit ☕The coffee price has been moving downward since February last year within the framework of the superior wave Y in turquoise. In our primary expectation, however, this descent should not last much longer. In the orange target zone between USX 144.40 and USX 136.40, it should come to the low, followed by subsequent rises. Only falling below the zone would put a spoke in the wheel. Then, the price would have to drop much further within our 35% probable alternative before the reversal sets in.
ICEUS:KC1!Long
by MarketIntel
Balrampur Chini [Seasonal Swing] #Sugarso here is my seasonal swing pick balrampur chini you might have noticed that the price of sugar stocks generally rises during winter season & on chart its forming a classical Ascending Triangle Pattern.... here is my plan if it comes near support trendline after a good candle i will enter with 50% and rest on breakout of resistance, Or fully on Breakout Do consult your financial advisor before making any investment decision this is only for educational purpose.
NSE:BALRAMCHIN
by Stoictrader1811
Is Corn Price on the Edge of a 25% Drop?In this idea, I am trying to read and forecast the behavior of the chart in the next 4.5 months . I do not follow corn production, harvest, demand, etc. Since April 2022 (its 9-year highs) has lost about 40% . Its relatively long-going bearish trend means that most of the drop likely has happened. Let's quickly study previous drops that lasted more than a year and erased more than 40% of the corn price. The last one started 11 years ago. It happened during world economic growth. The price lost more than 61% for 26 months of the trend. Another drop occurred during the GFC and lasted for 24 months. Corn lost 60.5% of its price. Important to note that the price reached its lowest point in December 2008 (in the sixth month after the drop started), then the price fluctuated and reached about the same level in September 2009. Considering the crisis and its trend low reached in 6 months, it is not the perfect example to compare with the current 2022-2023 corn price trend. Let's continue to delve into the past! 44% tumble was printed between April 2004 and November 2005, i.e. 19 months . Sending back 17 years ago, we can see a 64.4 % drop in 25 months . Here we are in 1983, the era of high dollar inflation (and not only). The Fed chair Volcker Jr. is fighting with inflation ECONOMICS:USIRYY , and America is recovering from its 1979-1982 recession. The world economy is starting to recover from recession/slowdown too. Between late August 1983 and February 1987 ( 43 months ), corn prices fell by 61.9% . These data series are not enough to firmly generalize bearish trends . Besides, price movements in the past do not determine possible future patterns. We can gently conclude that a bearish trend in corn prices that lasts more than a year could last between 19 and 43 months and show a drop between 40 and 64.4%. In view of those facts and the performance of the corn daily prices in the last 1.5 months, I forecast several scenarios. In the first one, I expect that the price would break the 469-470 support zone and come to 400 cents per bushel until the end of September . Then I expect some correction lasting 3-5 weeks. And the realization of scenario #1.5 (continuation of scenario #1), we could see a breakout of 400 cents and move to 345 cents per bushel before the end of the year . That would be the low or almost the low of the current long-term bearish trend for maze price. Combined scenarios #1 and #1.5 would mean minus 25% from the current price and a drop of 57.5% since April 2022. There are two alternatives . In scenario #2 after reaching 400 cents, the price would return to 470 cents . In scenario #3 the current support zone would be a minimum of the trend for the next 4.5 months.
CBOT:ZC1!Short
by Nikita_Kalinin