Wheat markets supported by dry weather in US: Grain market daily

• Current season UK feed wheat futures closed higher yesterday. The Nov-20 contract gained £0.30/t to £185.70/t, while the May-21 contract was up £1.80/t to £189.75/t – both new highs for those contracts.
• Meanwhile, UK Nov-21 futures slipped back slightly from the new high for that delivery period of £161.00/t, set on Friday. Yesterday, Nov-21 closed at £160.40/t.
• There were gains across global grain futures yesterday because of continuing dryness in the USA (below), the Black Sea and parts of South America – more in yesterday’s Market Report.
• Chicago soyabean and maize futures prices also recorded gains. Yesterday’s US crop progress report showed the harvest pace for these crops remains ahead of average. Soyabean harvest progress was less than the market had expected (Refinitiv).

Yesterday’s US crop progress report from the USDA was the latest piece of information to result in gains in global grain futures prices. Nearby Chicago and Paris wheat futures gained $0.64/t and €2.75/t respectively compared to Friday, closing at the highest levels since 23 Dec 2014 and 9 August 2018.

Planting continued amid generally dry weather over the past week and 77% of the planned winter wheat crop for harvest 2021 was planted by 18 October. This is ahead of the 5 year average for the time year (72%) but less than the market had expected according to a poll by Refinitiv, this supported prices yesterday.

However, in general it is the dry conditions that are supporting global wheat prices. In the winter wheat growing states, the dryness is now the most widespread and intense for mid-October, since 2012.  

Yields in the six states that account for over 60% of the winter wheat area and half of winter wheat production were all sharply lower in 2013, with Colorado 40% lower year-on-year. However, total US winter wheat production in 2013 was only 5% below 2012 because of higher production in the north-western, mid-west and eastern areas.

There is still ample time for the crop to perform well but rainfall will need to be regular and timely through this growing season to support 2021 yields. The three-month outlook suggests a dry start to winter. Unless rainfall is sufficient, US winter wheat yields could be down in 2021 – putting more reliance on spring wheat areas and yields.

These concerns about possible lower US winter wheat supplies in the 2021/22 come at the same time as concerns about winter wheat crops in the Black Sea for the 2021/22 season. Together the US, Russia and Ukraine account for 42% of global wheat exports (2015/16-2019/20).

Usually at this time of year, prices take more lead from current season factors, with new crop conditions getting more important as we move towards spring. However, currently these early concerns about 2021/22 supplies from some of the top exporters are supporting both old and new crop wheat prices.

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