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XAUUSD FORECAST 2MWelcome to this new page, we're a team of experts working 24/7 on metals and cocoa really detailed forecasts. Our main resources are based on news, technicals and our 3 year experience gives us a true credibility that you will see as long as we keep posting. Please keep in your mind that : - we're no professionals/counselors/financial advisers - you shall not place money that you should not if you can't live without it - we reject any kind of responsibility in case of a loss, this account only gives indications and further information regarding XAUUSD and COCOA, you and you only are in charge of your money and don't have to trust us This is and will be a short series about XAUUSD, our team has come to the conclusion that for the next month nothing much will happen, some kind of fall between the big rally to the 3000s.
OANDA:XAUUSD
by edl75
Ivory Coast Expects Cocoa Rebound Next Season on Better Weather Country expects to harvest 2 million tons in 2024-25 crop year Futures prices have dipped on improved cocoa crop outlook Ivory Coast’s cocoa output is expected to rebound next season — helping ease a global supply squeeze that pushed prices past records — as the world’s top grower banks on better weather. The West African producer is likely to harvest 2 million tons of the chocolate-making ingredient in the 2024-25 crop year that starts Oct. 1, according to people familiar with the matter, who cited early pod counting. The outlook for the upcoming year compares with the 1.8 million tons the International Cocoa Organization estimates the country will harvest by the end of the current season in September. Ivory Coast’s output averaged 2.2 million tons in the five years before 2023-24. The country has already sold 800,000 tons of the 2024-25 harvest on the forward market, the people said, asking not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. However, they added forward sales have since been paused by the industry regulator Le Conseil Cafe-Cacao. The CCC plans a combination of forward and spot sales in the future, as part of a marketing reform. A mix of bad weather, disease, and aging trees in top growers Ivory Coast and Ghana drove this season’s slump and saw New York cocoa futures soar past $11,000 a ton earlier this year. Prices have since eased on optimism about improving weather conditions in West Africa. Ghana is also expecting a better crop next season. Ivory Coast is also cracking down on the smuggling of cocoa beans to neighboring countries which will help boost supplies, said the people. An estimated 200,000 tons of beans were smuggled this season, they added. A spokesperson for the CCC declined to comment when contacted by phone on Friday.
PEPPERSTONE:COCOA
by Elite_Forex
Macro Monday 50 - The Ivory Coast~The Cocoa Centre of the WorldMacro Monday 50 The Ivory Coast ~ The Cocoa Centre of the World This week we will look at the investment opportunities presenting in the Ivory Coast which is the world’s largest producer of cocoa. This booming economy is expected to continue grow at a 6.6% GDP growth rate which competes with the likes of India (covered on a previous Macro Monday). Today we will cover the Ivory Coast Stock Index - the BRVM Composite Index, the cocoa futures market and also a little history on the west African region. We will also learn a little about the uniqueness of the cacao tree. All of this information is valuable to anyone considering investing in the cocoa markets, the Ivory Coast or West Africa. If you’re an investor seeking unique commodity exposure or seeking to plant some seeds in a sprouting economy, you’ve come to right place. I will also review cocoa through a commodity lens and why many factors present cocoa as a unique trading opportunity and a commodity worth keeping an eye on. The West Africa’s produce 70% of global Cocoa Currently 70% of the world’s cocoa beans are produced in West Africa by the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. If you ate chocolate this week, it very likely came from one these countries. The Ivory Coast produced 2.2 million tons of cocoa in 2022 accounting for over 30% of the global supply of cocoa, making it the largest cocoa producer in the world. In the 2023/24 cocoa season this reduced to 1.8 million tons. Also known as Côte d’Ivoire, the Ivory Coast is joined to the east by the world’s 2nd largest cocoa producer Ghana, which produced 1.1 million tons of cocoa in 2022 (approx. 20% of the global supply). In the 2023/24 season this reduced to 820,000 tons. The recent decline of cocoa production from the two largest producers indicates the 2024 season could spawn a supply shock in cocoa, increasing the value of the commodity. Many factors have caused this decline in production some of which we will discuss later in this article. Other notable cocoa producers include Indonesia (667,000 tons), Ecuador (337,000 tons), Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Together, all the countries combined with the aforementioned Ivory Coast and Ghana contribute the majority of the world’s cocoa supply. Cocoa is essential to the chocolate industry as are other products derived from cocoa beans. The production and trade of cocoa are vital for the economies of these countries, providing income for millions of small farmers and workers involved in the cocoa supply chain. Agriculture in these regions are driving major financial interest. Banks and telecommunications firms are growing rapidly, and all from producing one of the worlds most desired foods. Top 6 Exports from the Ivory Coast Ivory Coast’s main exports and their values in USD billions based on the most recent data from 2023: 1. Cocoa Beans: $3.33 bln 2. Gold: $2.12 bln 3. Rubber: $2.11 bln 4. Refined Petroleum: $1.88 bln. 5. Cocoa Paste: $1.08 bln. 6. Fruits and Nuts (incl cashews & coconuts): $1.2 billion. The Ivory Coast Economy is in Growth mode The GDP growth for Ivory Coast in 2024 is expected to be robust. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country’s GDP growth is forecasted at 6.6% for the year. This positive outlook is consistent with Ivory Coast’s trend of strong economic performance in recent years. The growth is driven by a diverse economy with strong sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services, contributing to its status as one of the leading economies in the West African region. The French Connection In case you’re wondering in, 1893 Ivory Coast was made a French colony. In 1904, Ivory Coast became part of French West Africa. During World War I and World War II, Ivorian soldiers fought for France. The Ivory Coast is a Francophone country, and in 2024, French is spoken by 10 million people out of 28.9 million (33.61%). Abidjan is the city with the third biggest French speaking population anywhere in the world. It is also the fourth most populous city in Africa, with about 4.7million people living there. In international relations, Françafrique (English pronunciation: Frawn-sah-frique) is France's sphere of influence (or pré carré in French, meaning 'backyard') over former French and (also French-speaking) Belgian colonies in sub-Saharan Africa. At present Côte d'Ivoire is Frances leading trading partner in the CFA franc zone (WAEMU countries) and the third-largest in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria. France is Côte d'Ivoire's second-largest trading partner after China. As you can see, the Ivory Coast has very strong trading ties in Europe. Demographic Snapshot - Ivory Coast The population is c. 30 million with a median age of 19 years old. 60% of the population are under the age of 25 (as of 2020 figures) presenting a very young work abled demographic. Ivory Coast’s Booming Stock Market in 2023 The Ivory Coast had a booming stock market in 2023 and the country as a whole appears to be presenting great economic strives and monumental investment potential. Lets have a look at the Ivory Coast Stock Index. The Ivory Coast Stock Index - The BRVM Composite The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) is the regional stock exchange of the member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. I have provided a map on another platform of these countries of which the link in is my profile. BRVM Composite Components The BRVM Composite is made up of 46 stocks with 39 of these companies based in the Ivory Coast and 7 based in neighboring countries. Many of the companies operate through individual subsidiary’s in each of the WAEMU countries. The Ivory Coast index provides an interesting mix of growth stocks in the Banking, cocoa production and manufacturing alongside other fruit and nuts, gold mining, telecommunications and tourism. The country is commodity rich and has the workforce to produce at scale. The BRVM trades in the West African CFA franc, which is usually abbreviated as XOF. This currency is used by the countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), providing a stable and uniform platform for financial and economic activities within the region. The BRVM experienced a remarkable year in 2023, with a notable performance that saw the share price of eight stocks climb into double digit figures. Additionally, the stock market’s total value made a historic leap, surpassing the CFA franc 8 trillion threshold (equivalent to approximately $13 billion USD) for the first time ever in Sept 2023. The BRVM Composite top 5 companies by Market Cap 1.Sonatel, AKA Societe Nationale des Telecom has a market cap of CFA 1.93T ($3.2 billion USD). Accounts for approx. 20% of the entire BRVM Stock Exchange equity market. -A major player in the telecommunications sector in West Africa, providing a range of services including fixed-line telephony, mobile communication, internet, and television. 2. Orange Côte d’Ivoire has a market cap of CFA 1.73T ($2.9 billion USD) is listed on the BRVM Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ORAC”. Also accounts for approx. 20% of the BRVM. -Orange Côte d’Ivoire is a subsidiary of the French group Orange and is a leader in telephony in Côte d’Ivoire, offering fixed, mobile, and internet services, as well as mobile payment services with Orange Money. 3.Societe Generale de Banques has a market cap of CFA 631 billion ($1 billion USD) -A subsidiary of the French multinational bank Société Générale, it offers a wide range of banking products and services to individuals, corporations, institutions, and professionals in Ivory Coast. 4.Ecobank (ETI) has a market cap of CFA 396 billion ($636 million USD) -Also known as Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), it is a pan-African banking conglomerate with operations in 33 African countries. It serves both wholesale and retail customers and is a leading regional banking group in West Africa and Central Africa. 5.Coris Bank has a market cap of CFA 328 billion ($525 million USD) -This is the second-largest banking group in Burkina Faso, providing retail, corporate, and Islamic banking services. It also offers a variety of banking products and services, including e-banking and foreign exchange. As you can see in terms of USD these companies are only sprouting and have a lot of growth potential. These companies are obviously benefiting from major agricultural and infrastructural growth in this blooming economy. Now onto the chart. The BRVM Composite Chart is presently not available on Trading View however you can view it on Investing.com. When it becomes available here I will share it. ✅The smooth moving average on the chart is the 200 day SMA (or the 40 week moving average) which appears to have acted as float for price and is sloping upwards with diagonal support. ✅We can clearly observe an ascending triangle also which suggests much higher prices are plausible. ⬜️ At present this chart is not available on TradingView (even though it is powered by TradingView on another platform). I have requested it to be added to allow us to structure a trade more systematically. If it is added I will share the chart on TradingView so that we can monitor it more closely and create and interactive chart to track. Now lets take a look at the Cocoa Futures chart. Cocoa Futures Chart (ticker: ICEUS:CC1! ) This is the Subject Chart Above at the heading of the artical. The cocoa futures chart is trending strongly bullish. ✅We have found support off the 21 week SMA (blue line) several times since 2022 and we can expect this to continue with such a bullish trend in place. ☑️In the event price closes below the 21 week we can then start looking for a sizable correction down to $6,545. Outside of this, the chart is looking great. ✅IMO the most likely outcome is for the price to blast on up to an all-time high or consolidate sideways until the end of the Sept 2024, after which we would likely have a DSS Bressert cross and continue to move higher. Consolidation after a 375% + increase in price since Jan 2023 would be fairly standard procedure. This includes the scenario of a fall to $6,545 which I would still consider a consolidation move, however I find this less likely of an outcome. Many factors are driving the price of Cocoa up, we will look at some key factors and concerns in the cocoa market below. The Cacao Tree Requires a Specific Climate to Grow Cacao is cocoa in its raw, less-processed form. Cacao grows from trees called Theobroma cacao. Cacao trees are native to South America, West Africa, and some countries in Asia. Its quite incredible how the plant can only thrive in very specific regions called Equatorial Zones. The 3 main species of Theobroma Cacao prefer an equatorial-humid climate, with nearly year-round constant specific humid temperatures. The areas are often coastal or have coastal drafts, have low elevations and super dense humidity. The Cacoa Tree doesn’t mind the heat as much as Coffee Arabica, but it absolutely needs nearly super-saturated water vapor in the atmosphere to survive. The cacao leaf is not very glossy, so if the air is too dry, it will lose all of its water to the detriment of its fruit. Roughly 35 cacao seeds are generated from each hanging fruit which is then fermented and roasted to create our beloved chocolate taste. This process can take a few days to a number of weeks. The raw form of cacao is much more bitter and can be difficult to eat, albeit I recently discovered it is a great coffee replacement. Interestingly, Both are the seed of a fruit — the coffee "cherry" and the cacao pod that contains 35seeds or beans. While much of chocolate's flavor is developed during a lengthy fermentation process, for coffee, a short fermentation has less impact on flavor and is more a means of separating the seed from the fruit. Both Coffee and Cocoa offer natural stimulants; caffeine for coffee and theobromine for Cacao. The main Cacao crop growing season is from Oct - Mar (yielding c.80% of annual produce) and the secondary season is May to Aug which yields c. 20%. At present a tree virus is causing significant issues reducing crops by up to 50%, we will discuss this below. Cocoa Virus Killing up to 50% of Cocoa trees Unfortunately, a rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardizing the global supply of the world's most popular treat. As noted above, about 50% of the world's chocolate originates from cacao trees in the West Africa countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana. The damaging virus is attacking cacao trees in Ghana, resulting in harvest losses of between 15 - 50%. Spread by small insects called mealybugs that eat the leaves, buds and flowers of trees, the cacao swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is among the most damaging threats to the root ingredient of chocolate. "This virus is a real threat to the global supply of chocolate" Benito Chen-Charpentier (professor of mathematics at The University of Texas at Arlington and an author of "Cacao sustainability) Ghana has lost more than 254 million cacao trees in recent years, and the best measures to address the virus are an expensive vaccine (heightening cost) that renders a smaller plant (reducing yield). Farmers are attempting to separate the plants by greater distances however, this results in a similar issue with lessor plants and reduced supply/returns. In summary the virus could cause a major global cocoa shortage causing a major supply shock to the cocoa industry, even the news of this event could cause the value of cocoa to rise. Combine this with the secondary season ending in Aug 2024 poorly, and we are setting up for a cocoa shortage coming into the cocoa demand Christmas season. Ivory Coast and Senegal Clear Leaders in West Africa Finally, I wanted to recognize that the Ivory Coast is not on their own and many of the countries around them are also thriving. The Ivory Coast and Senegal both play significant roles in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The Ivory Coast is often considered the powerhouse of the union, contributing a substantial portion of the region’s GDP. It is the driving economy within WAEMU, with a notable share of the nominal GDP of the zone. On the other hand, Senegal is recognized as the second-largest economy in the WAEMU area and has been making strides in economic growth and development through initiatives like the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE). While Dakar, Senegal, hosts the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), which is crucial for the financial stability and monetary policy of the WAEMU, the Ivory Coast’s economic weight within the union is also significant. Therefore, both countries can be seen as key financial centers in their own right within the WAEMU context, with the Ivory Coast leading in economic size and Senegal in its strategic role hosting the BCEAO. The Hunt for West African Brokerages I am in the process of hunting for safe and reliable brokers in the Ivory Coast and West Africa’s region. I have found some but I could not recommend them until I do some testing and get some opinions. If anyone has any information on this, I would be very happy to have it and share it with the community here. In any event, I will look for easier indexes also that include exposure to the these countries and to Cocoa. Interactive Charts on TradingView All these charts are available on my Tradingview Page and you can go to them at any stage over the next few years press play and you'll get the chart updated with the easy visual guide to see how Ireland's stock market has performed. I hope its helpful. I wrote this and consumed a whole bar of 85% Lindt Chocolate….hard to believe the journey it took to reach here. Thanks again for coming along, PUKA
ICEUS:CC1!Long
by PukaCharts
1
[CC] Cocoa bull run is over ?Following an explosive surge that propelled Cocoa ( NYSE:CC ) to the $1000 mark, the price is now encountering resistance around this significant psychological level. Observing this resistance, there's anticipation for a correction towards the area of interest defined by my TP zone. While a revisit to the $1000 level in the coming days is plausible, it's probable that we'll witness a corrective phase following this impressive bull run. The market sentiment suggests a potential pullback as the price encounters resistance and investors book profits. In summary, while the short-term outlook may involve another touch of the $1000 level, caution is warranted as a correction seems increasingly likely in the aftermath of this remarkable uptrend in Cocoa ( NYSE:CC ). Great Trade !
ICEUS:CC1!Short
by ArnoSG
CHARTOLOGY 101 --- 43 years in the makingThe bigger the pattern the bigger the consolidation the more explosive the move how about this Chart Porn? Cup and handle I expect the log tgt not only to be made but surpassed given yesterdays event's in #baltimore Yup Massive east coast supply chain disruptions to be expected Ports jammed Aviation fuel disruptions Major economic ripples could transpire form this the east coast is home to 120 million people I believe .. Wow Stock up on your Cadbury's and many other things ... :0
ICEUS:CC1!
by BallaJi
3 Commodities to watch closely this week Cocoa: Cocoa futures hit $9,400 a ton for the first time ever, marking a 45% increase in March. Poor harvests in key producing countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana, where adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains from El Niño and subsequent extreme heat, have led to supply shortages. The Ivory Coast cocoa regulator anticipates a 33% decrease in production, from 600,000 MT to 400,000 MT. European Gas: European natural gas futures are trading near €29/MWh, maintaining levels last seen in early February following a terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow. Additional attacks (related to Russia war on Ukraine and not the terrorist attack) on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine have further fueled supply concerns. However, prices could ease as Europe moves beyond the heating season. Gold: Last week, the US Federal Reserve maintained its expected 75-basis points reduction in the Fed Fund rate this year, aligning with previous communications. This contributed to gold reaching a new all-time high before a subsequent decline. Analysis might suggest a bullish pattern forming, with the possibility of gold surpassing $2,200/oz. and testing the ATH near $2,225/oz., while maintaining support levels around $2,150/oz.
BLACKBULL:XAUUSD
by BlackBull_Markets
[COCOA] Cacao timing to take the correctionCurrently, the PEPPERSTONE:COCOA (cacao) market has undergone a notable upside rally over recent days, culminating in a significant move towards the $6000 level. Today, we observed a precise hit of this key psychological level, followed by a clean rejection, prompting a short position. The primary objective now is to remain below this crucial $6000 level, aiming to capitalize on a potential correction in the recent upward surge. By maintaining short positions, we aim to capture the potential downside movement with a relatively small risk, yet the possibility of a substantial gain. Initially, the trade unfolded favorably, with the price action aligning with our short position. However, subsequent movement saw a retracement back towards the entry level, highlighting the need for vigilance and adaptability in response to evolving market conditions. As we await further price action, it's imperative to remain attentive to developments in the PEPPERSTONE:COCOA market. Tomorrow's movements will provide valuable insights into the durability of the recent rejection and the potential continuation or reversal of the prevailing trend. In navigating this trade, maintaining a disciplined approach and closely monitoring key levels and indicators will be crucial. While the potential for a significant win exists, it's essential to manage risk effectively and remain adaptable to changing market dynamics.
ICEUS:CC1!Short
by ArnoSG
1
Easter eggs likely to get expensive as cocoa trades at a 46-yearCocoa was the best performing commodity in 2023, recording a price increase of 64%1. Cocoa prices have continued to rally in 2024 crossing the threshold of US$5000 Metric Ton (MT) on 2 February 2024. The last time cocoa prices rose to this magnitude was in 1977 when it reached US$5379MT. A similar situation prevailed back then, adverse weather conditions led to production scarcities in major cocoa production countries including Ghana and Ivory Coast. Current crop conditions remain unfavourable in key cocoa growing regions Weather conditions in Africa have been unfavourable particularly in the Ivory coast and Ghana. This matters as the cocoa producing belt of West Africa is responsible for generating over 80% of the total global output. Ghana is the second biggest producer in the world. Moisture levels have been below average, and more trees have been affected by the Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV). Main crop cocoa arrivals at ports in top grower Ivory Coast had reached 951,710 tonnes by 21 January since the start of the season on 1 October, down 33% from the same period last season. The cocoa harvest is already falling well behind the prior year’s level. Added to that, the key West African Cocoa growing region is facing dry Harmattan winds which could destroy the cocoa pods growing for the Ivory Coast’s mid-crop in April. Ivory Coast halts forward sales of cocoa Ivory coast has suspended forward sales of cocoa beans for the 2024/25 season amid uncertainty about the production volumes. The country has seen its cocoa production falling this year due to adverse weather and diseases damaging the crop. Owing to which the country doesn’t want to oversell the 2024/25 crop until the production estimates are available. Buyers typically utilise forward sales to secure longer-term supplies. As Ivory Coast suspends forward sales, the absence of forward buying is likely to spur spot purchases in the near term. Cocoa prices in January itself have risen 13%2, on strong buying activity in the physical market. The front end of cocoa futures curve remains in backwardation, yielding a positive implied roll yield of 3.2% indicating near term tightness in supply. Bearish grinding data fails to arrest cocoa’s price rally Concerns started to surface that demand growth for cocoa will be impacted by higher cocoa prices. This was confirmed by the Q4 2023 data on cocoa processing which showed the grind number for North America was down 3% yoy to 103,971MT, Europe declined 2.5% yoy to 350,739MT while Asia saw the biggest decline at 8.55% to 211,202MT.3 The lower grind data is likely to have reduced the deficit on the global cocoa market from 350,000MT to 300,000MT for the 2023/24 crop year. However, expectations of lower grinding data was being anticipated by the market owing to higher cocoa prices. Amidst the current backdrop, the cocoa market is likely to face a supply deficit in the current crop year for the third successive year. The extension of the current price rally remains dependent on development of the mid-crop in Ivory Coast and Ghana and the likely impact of the CSSV. Net speculative positioning in cocoa futures is more than 1-standard deviation (stdv) above the five-year average underscoring bullish sentiment towards cocoa. Sources 1 Source: Bloomberg Cocoa Futures price performance from 31 December 2022 to 29 December 2023 2 Source: Bloomberg Cocoa Futures price performance from 3 January 2024 to 31 January 2024 3 Bloomberg as of 31 January 2024 This material is prepared by WisdomTree and its affiliates and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date of production and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by WisdomTree, nor any affiliate, nor any of their officers, employees or agents. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
NYMEX:CJ1!
by aneekaguptaWTE
The jury is still out on the impact of El NiñoWeather has always been a key factor influencing the outlook for major commodities, especially agricultural commodities. The arrival of El Niño in June 2023 has led to a wide divergence in the performance across agricultural commodities. As discussed in our previous blog “What does El Niño’s return mean for commodities?”, the effects of El Niño include specific wind patterns across the Pacific Ocean, heavy rain in South America, and droughts in Australia and parts of Asia including India and Indonesia. This is why certain commodities such as cocoa, sugar, soybean oil and grains tend to depict a price positive environment following an El Niño phenomena. So far in 2023 – cocoa, sugar and cotton have been key beneficiaries of the El Niño weather phenomena whilst wheat, corn and soybeans have posted a weaker performance. How is the El Niño evolving? With the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasting more than a 95% probability of El Niño continuing through the Northern Hemisphere winter through January - March 2024 , chances are high that we continue to see further weather abnormalities over the coming months. There is now around a 71% chance that this event peaks as a strong El Niño this winter1. The main El Niño monitoring metric showed the average sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean—was 1.3˚Celsius (2.3˚Fahrenheit) above the long-term average in August, up from 1˚C in July1. The whole ocean (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Artic and Southern Ocean ) was over 1˚C above the 20th-century average in August, the first time that’s happened in the 174-year record2. An important aspect of ocean changes is the sea level height. Presently there is a strong ocean sea level rise in the easterly tropical Pacific, a clear sign that El Niño is active3. The changes in the ocean heat content are mainly due to the expansion and rise of the strong subsurface warm pool. This also causes the sea level height to increase, usually associated with warmer waters. Agricultural commodities price response to El Niño will vary The growing of agricultural products is sensitive to weather patterns. For some crops, El Niño could boost production, while for others it could damage production. This is because the drift in warm water across the Pacific moves’ evaporation and rain such that Southeast Asia and Australia tend to get drier while Peru and Ecuador tend to receive more precipitation. Should the weather event intensify, it could be a significant catalyst for price gains in cocoa, soybean oil, sugar, and grains as discussed in “What does El Niño’s return mean for commodities?” blog. Cocoa and sugar lead the commodity scoreboard in El Niño ’s slipstream Cocoa has been an important beneficiary of the El Niño. The concentration of supply in West Africa, nearly 70% of global supply4, underlines the outsized impact of the region’s weather patterns on the world’s cocoa supplies and prices. The emerging El Niño is likely to hamper the next main crop that begins in October as it tends to bring dry and hot conditions to West Africa. This comes at a time when heavy rains in West Africa have triggered the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and the spread of Black pod diseases. The diseases alongside the high cost of inputs, have not spared the two leading producers (i.e., Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana) and affected their volume of production5. Despite high cocoa prices, demand evident from cocoa grinding continues to rise in Asia and the US6. Sugar has also benefitted from the emergence of El Niño as lower rainfall in Asia, namely India and Thailand have resulted in lower sugar production. However, we expect further upside for sugar prices to be capped as Brazil (the world’s largest producer and exporter) is likely to fill the gap. Production in Brazil’s main Centre- South (CS) growing region between the start of the crop year in April and mid-August already amounted to 22.7mn tons, which is up 22% over the same period last year7. What’s more, the sugar mix increased to 51.1% in H1 September, up from 50.7% in H2 August signalling that Brazilian mills continue to favour sugar production over ethanol amidst higher sugar prices5. Extreme weather conditions in China have reduced domestic supplies. China is also planning to release 1.3mn tons of sugar from its reserves, to increase domestic supplies and stabilise prices4. Wheat prices stand to benefit as key producers to face the impact of El Niño On the other end of the spectrum, grains (namely wheat, corn and soybeans) continued to struggle as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlined a more bearish outlook for corn while bullish for wheat. The corn harvest is progressing well with 15% of the crop harvested, up from 11% at the same stage last year and also above the five-year average of 13%8. Moscow’s revocation of the secure grain’s corridor through the Black Sea, alongside the Russian attacks on key infrastructure along the Danube River in Ukraine, have lowered grains exports from Ukraine by 25% over the prior year. Yet wheat prices have fallen sharply this year as Russia’s record crop is enabling it to ship huge volumes to world markets. The Grain Industry Association of Western Australia has likewise reduced its crop forecast for the region by 1.5 million tons to 8.5 million tons. Most of Australia is expected to face warm and dry conditions over the next three months9, so further downward revisions are on the cards. Argentinian farmers are also battling with a drought. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange has already warned that the crop in 2023/24 could be impaired if there is no rainfall in the near future. As the prospects for the wheat crop amongst major producer countries are becoming increasingly weak, we expect wheat to benefit from these rising tailwinds. Conclusion There has been a wide divergence within the commodity linked Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) flows since the start of the year. Agriculture linked ETFs have seen US$458mn worth of outflows while energy linked commodity ETFs raked in US$1.2Bn worth of inflows10. Agriculture linked commodity ETFs likely faced outflows owing to profit taking. We continue to expect plenty of upside in select agricultural commodities as the impact of the El Niño is likely to intensify over the upcoming winter. This material is prepared by WisdomTree and its affiliates and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date of production and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by WisdomTree, nor any affiliate, nor any of their officers, employees or agents. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
ICEUS:CC1!
by aneekaguptaWTE