Grains outlook hangs in the balance of the Black Sea Grain deal The failed rebellion by the Wagner group over the June 24th weekend brought to light not only the ineptitude of the Russian top military command but also the carefully crafted image of President Putin as the guarantor of stability. Putin’s assertion that the quick end of the 24-hour revolt had shown the unity of Russians behind him was contradicted by footage of adoring crowds cheering Prigozhin and his fighters as they came out of a southern city they had occupied. It is possible that Putin could step up the escalation between Russia and Ukraine to re-establish his position which currently appears weakened. The recent political turmoil in Russia lowers the probability of the Black Sea Grain deal being extended beyond mid-July (current deal expires on July 18th).
No respite in Russia’s sabre-rattling
Even prior to the failed coup in Russia, pessimism had been expressed by both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. One senior Ukrainian diplomat has even spoken of a 99% probability of Russia withdrawing from the agreement. Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit the deal, complaining that obstacles remain to its own exports of food and fertilizer. It has also demanded the re-opening of the ammonia pipeline as a condition for renewing the grain corridor deal through the Black Sea. However, the ammonia pipeline was damaged a day before the Kakhovka dam was destroyed on June 6. This increases the risk that Russia could after all follow through on its threat and revoke the grain deal as early as July.
Grains outlook clouded by Black Sea Grain deal
The original agreement brokered on 22 July 2022, by the United Nations and Turkey to open a safe maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea helped to address the global food security crisis and lower grains prices. Participants on the agricultural markets remain anxious on the extension of the current deal and it could lend additional tailwinds to grains prices.
According to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, wheat, corn and soybeans saw a 21%, 43% and 35% decline in short positioning underscoring a shift in sentiment towards weather uncertainty and geopolitical risk premiums.
Top wheat producers forecast weak supply outlook owing to adverse weather conditions
The prospects for the wheat crop in key producer countries has disappointed of late owing to adverse weather conditions. Dry conditions and low soil moisture in the west and east coasts of Australia imply that much of the 2023-24 crop has been sown dry and will require adequate and timely rain to allow the plants to germinate. Wheat is a major winter crop in Australia with planting from April and the harvest starting in November. The expected onset of the El Niño conditions from July will likely see winter crop output fall significantly according to Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science (ABARES).
Across the globe, wild weather is affecting crops elsewhere, including Americas and North Africa. Europe is also being impacted by high temperatures and scant rainfall, increasing the risk of damage to the continent’s wheat crops.
On the flip side, Canada and Ukrainian wheat supply forecasts are positive. According to Statistics Canada, 26.9 million acres have been planted with wheat – not only is this the highest figure in 22 years, it is also 0.4 million acres more than the analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected . The Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) predicts significantly higher yields this year, meaning that the crop – contrary to what has been expected so far – could actually turn out to be higher than last season. However Ukrainian farmers are likely to struggle to export their grain owing to the uncertainty surrounding the Black Sea grains corridor.
Corn market remains bullish
Dry weather in the US and Europe has seen the condition of the corn and soybean crop deteriorate resulting in a price positive environment for corn and soybean. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) in its latest crop progress report continues to highlight concerns for the US corn and soybean crop, given the current dry weather conditions. The USDA rates 50% of the corn crop in good-to-excellent condition compared to 67% seen at the same stage last year.
Moreover, the rating of the corn crop is the lowest seen for this time of year since 1988. This implies that the USDA’s optimistic forecast of 15.3bn bushels for the us corn crop in 2023/24 will hardly prove reasonable any longer. The National Centres for Environmental Prediction said it expects many parts of the Corn Belt that have been turning dry over the past month will get more rain than usual for this time of year over the next two weeks marking a change from earlier indications that El Niño would limit rainfall for thirsty crops.
Soybean is also facing a similar story with 51% of the soybean crop rated good-to-excellent condition compared to 65% at the same time last year . Growing pessimism over the extension of the Black Sea Grains deal beyond mid-July is also likely to lend an additional tailwind for corn and soybean. Weak Chinese imports through most of the 2022/23 season surged in May to over 14.8mmt of corn, wheat, and soybeans, which was the highest monthly total since June 2021 . However we would caution that a fairly muted crop-based biofuel quotas from the US Environmental Protection Agency could offset some of the strength in Chinese demand.
The front end of the soybean futures curve has extended its backwardation, now providing investors a 6.4% roll yield compared to 0% last month .
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