MARKET OUTLOOK – WHEAT

Markets leaving the contract lows a little further in the rearview mirror for Chicago and Kansas City wheat. Minneapolis wheat struggling to keep pace relative to Chicago and Kansas City. Overall, wheat markets continue to be fed new rhetoric towards larger crops. Argentinian and Australian harvest is underway, and the crops appear to be getting bigger vs smaller. Argentina’s initial crop harvest reports are that yields are better than anticipated. Australia’s crop in the Western region tacked on 1 mmt of tonnage anticipated and will keep the bulls somewhat limited as there is a bigger crop to chew through. Demand for North American wheat holding up well as Canadian and U.S. crop exports are ahead of last year's pace. Demand is the big figure to be watching going forward. Market will be looking to see if we can ramp up Russian/Black Sea shipments as there is a sizeable crop to move out of that region as well. Global wheat bids are stable to higher. We are transitioning into winter exporting season for northern hemisphere producers. Producer bids for spring wheat in the Canadian prairies have been increasing and basis on the Canadian prairies is doing the heavy lifting (see chart below).  We are still on hold for making big sales for now but are beginning to show interest as we see cash bids continue to improve. As we head into winter another item to watch will be any drought or issues with either the European, Black Sea or U.S. winter wheat crops.

MARKET OUTLOOK – DURUM

Early demand has been promising and the notable 310,000 tonne sale to Algeria in October will only improve export prospects for the short term. Provincial reports point to the crop being larger than Statistics Canada with the Sask. provincial crop report pointing to a 39 BPA average for durum vs a 34 BPA average just one year ago. Market prices have picked up since harvest lows and are touching $8.00 in somefurther eastern prairie regions. Production is expected widely within the market to surpass Statistics Canada’s 6.5 mmt crop. Quality of the crop is a bit of an issue vs last year as there is more durum in the #3 and lower categories. #1 durum is carrying a premium in the domestic market. Global import demand is expected to drop from 9.2 mmt last year to 8.6 mmt this year, larger global production being penciled in at 37.2 mmt vs last year's 36.4 mmt of which Canada will account for 6.5 mmt of that. EU crop at 8.3 mmt vs 7.2 mmt last year. Ending stocks, this year are expected globally at 7.5 mmt vs 6.7 mmt last year and Canadian durum will need to be competitive. Early exports of Canadian durum have been keeping a good pace and pricing well into EU and NorthAfrica.