Northern Ireland weekly market report - 3 February 2025

3 February 2025

Grains

Wheat

The US import tax could weigh in the short term. However, weather concerns about winter crop conditions in the Northern Hemisphere keep the outlook uncertain.

Maize

The US import tax could weigh in the short term, but lower global maize ending stocks could support prices in the medium term.

Barley

Feed barley prices are influenced by maize and feed wheat prices. However, a lower price differential between barley and other feed grains may limit any rises.

Global markets

Last week (Friday - Friday), Chicago wheat futures (May-25) gained $4.96/t, to close at $210.24/t on Friday. Paris milling wheat futures (May-25) rose €4.75/t over the same period, closing at €235.75/t.

The global wheat market was supported last week mainly by weather risks for winter crops in the Northern Hemisphere, export demand from the US and forecast lower exports from Russia.

Weather risks for winter wheat in US are still present due to a combination of low temperatures and limited snowfall this winter in parts of the US Plains and Midwest. India also has crop risks, with forecasts showing warm weather for all of February. India’s winter crops are planted from October to December and require cold weather conditions during their growth and maturity stages for optimal yields (LSEG).

The USDA export sales report for the week ending 23 January, showed net wheat export sales near the top of trade estimates at 456.1 Kt.

SovEcon trimmed its 2024/25 Russian wheat export estimate by 0.9 Mt from 43.7 to 42.8 Mt due to rising export taxes and slower export pace from early 2025. This fact could support the pace of EU wheat exports in the current marketing year.

Meanwhile, the USDA export sales report for the week ending 23 January, showed net maize export sales close to the average of trade estimates at 1.36 Mt. The top buyers were Japan (493.1 Kt), Mexico (426.9 Kt) and Spain (140.7 Kt).

Chicago maize futures (May-25) closed last Friday below the strong technical resistance level of $5/bushel ($196.84/t), which could limit further gains in the near term.

Fundamentally, there are factors supporting maize prices, but President Trump signed executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, 10% tariffs on China on Saturday. As a result, Mexico will respond and though no details are available yet, under threat is imports of maize to Mexico from the US.

UK focus

UK feed wheat futures (May-25) lost £0.60/t over the week (Friday-Friday) to close at £188.50/t. The Nov-25 contract gained £0.75/t, settling at £193.65/t. Domestic feed wheat futures for the 2024 and 2025 crops moved in different directions.

This week, the currency impact on grain and oilseed prices may increase due to the Bank of England's interest rate decision on 06 February 2025. The market forecast is for a cut from 4.75% to 4.5%.

Feed wheat price delivered into East Anglia in February was reported at £193.50/t on Thursday, with no weekly comparison. Bread wheat delivered into Northamptonshire in February was quoted at £218.50/t, down £4.50/t on the week.

On 30 January, AHDB released the latest UK cereal supply and demand estimates. The release included a first look at wheat and barley exports this season, and a revision for the oat export forecast. Across all three major UK grown cereals, in 2024/25 exports are forecast well below usual levels. Steady exports mean heavier UK closing stocks.

Oilseeds

Rapeseed

Higher US tariffs on Canadian canola (rapeseed) oil and meal, plus crude oil imports could pressure rapeseed prices in the short term. However, the small global 2024/25 rapeseed crop and mixed forecasts for 2025/26 offer some support longer term.

Soyabeans

Potential for retaliatory measures (to US tariffs) to reduce export demand for US soyabeans could pressure prices in the short term. However, weather concerns in Argentina and a large crop in Brazil, despite the slow harvest, may help prices stabilise longer term.

Global markets

Chicago soybean futures were mixed last week (Friday to Friday). The old crop (May-25) fell $3.95 to $388.53/t, while the new crop (Nov-24) gained $0.83 to $386.14/t. Chicago soybean oil futures (May-25) rose $20.06, closing at $1025.58/t. The market was influenced by uncertainty over US tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, along with a slow Brazilian harvest and drought in Argentina.

The expectation of US tariffs, along with potential retaliatory measures and supply chain disruptions, created market uncertainty, leading to profit-taking at the end of last week. President Trump confirmed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with 10% tariffs for China on Saturday (1 February).

Concerns over South American supplies continued last week. Rain in Argentina provided little relief for drought-hit soybean areas, while showers in Brazil further delayed the harvest.

Despite the slow pace, there remains optimism for a bumper crop in Brazil, with any losses from Argentina's hot and dry weather expected to be offset by Brazil's production. Forecasts show limited rainfall for Argentina and more rain in already wet areas of Brazil over the next week.

US soybean exports were weak last week, with net sales of 438 Kt for the week ending 23 January, down 33% below the average of the past four weeks. This was also at the lower end of trade estimates, which ranged from 0.45 Mt to 1.7 Mt, according to a pre-report poll by Reuters (LSEG).

Malaysian palm oil markets saw some support last week from stronger Chicago soy oil prices and a weaker Malaysian ringgit against the US dollar.

These helped offset concerns about a decline in Indonesia's crude palm oil exports in January and the US tariff threat. However, lower crude oil prices, which make palm oil less attractive for biodiesel, limited the gains.

Rapeseed focus

The weakness in Chicago soyabeans (May-25), Winnipeg canola (rapeseed) and crude oil futures prices filtered into rapeseed prices last week (Friday-Friday). Old crop (May-25) Paris rapeseed futures ended the week at €515.50/t, down €8.25/t from the previous Friday.

The Nov-25 contract saw lesser losses, down €1.00/t on the week, ending Friday’s session at €486.75/t.

Rapeseed delivered into Erith in May was quoted at £441.50/t, down £14.50/t from the previous week. Delivery to East Anglia in May was quoted at £440.50/t, also falling £14.50/t.