Soybeans, nearby corn up on commercials

Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying. Unknown destinations bought 138,000 tons of combined old and new crop U.S. beans and China picked up 120,000 tons of new crop. Out of the purchase by unknown, 18,000 tons is for 2012/13 delivery and 120,000 tons is for 2013/14. Fundamentally, the near term supply remains tight and there are continued shipping delays out of major ports in Brazil, from both rain delaying loading and labor issues. Soybean meal was up on spillover from beans and oil was mixed in consolidation trade.

Corn was mixed on old crop/new crop spread adjustments, with nearbys up on commercial buying and deferreds down on speculative selling. The trade does expect good planting progress on Monday, but there has been rain in some already very wet areas and there’s more in the forecast in some key growing areas. In any event, those numbers are out Monday at 4 PM Eastern/3 PM Central. Ethanol futures were higher. South Korea’s Corn Processing Industry Association bought 45,000 tons of food grade corn from South Africa.

The wheat was lower fund and technical selling. There was no new buying interest for the winter wheat pits, despite domestic and international weather concerns. Losses in Minneapolis were limited by the slow spring planting pace and good demand for high protein wheat. European wheat was lower on recent rainfall in the Black Sea region and Australia. In sell-buy-sell export activity, Japan is tendering for 37,000 tons of food wheat, 2,000 tons of malting barley, and 1,000 tons of food barley.

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 17, 2013

Jul. corn closed at $6.52 and 3/4, up 11 and 1/4 cents
Jul. soybeans closed at $14.48 and 1/2, up 21 cents
Jul. soybean meal closed at $425.10, up $10.20
Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.52, unchanged
Jul. wheat closed at $6.83 and 1/4, down 4 and 1/2 cents
Jun. live cattle closed at $119.40, down 50 cents
Jun. lean hogs closed at $91.52, down $1.35
Jun. crude oil closed at $96.02, up 86 cents
Jul. cotton closed at 86.41, up 38 points
Jun. Class III milk closed at $18.36, down 9 cents
Jun. gold closed at $1,364.90, down $22.20
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 15,354.40, up 121.18 points

Commercials support soybeans

Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying. The nearby supply remains tight and shipments out of Brazil continue to be slow due to rain delaying loading, along with labor issues. Weekly export sales were within estimates with another strong week for shipments. Bean meal sales topped pre-report estimates and USDA reported a net cancellation on soybean oil. Soybean meal and oil were higher, following beans, with oil getting additional support from the firm cash basis.

Corn was lower on fund and technical selling. Rain coverage around the Midwest has generally been light, allowing for solid planting progress in many areas. There’s more rain in the forecast but amounts could be less than originally expected. Ethanol futures were mostly lower. South Korea’s Corn Processing Industry Association bought 55,000 tons of food grade corn from Brazil, bringing purchases of corn and wheat by South Korean feed and flour mills over the past 10 days to more than 600,000 tons.

The wheat complex was lower on technical and fund selling. Weekly export numbers were pretty much neutral to bearish with nothing really outstanding and no fresh news. However, you would think weather would be a bigger factor with dry conditions for the hard red winter crop and more rain ahead for the Northern Plains. European wheat was lower on spillover from Chicago. Bangladesh bought 50,000 tons of wheat from India and in sell-buy-sell trade, Japan is tendering for 120,000 tons of feed wheat and 200,000 tons of feed barley.

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 16, 2013

Jul. corn closed at $6.41 and 1/2, down 9 and 1/4 cents
Jul. soybeans closed at $14.27 and 1/2, up 14 and 3/4 cents
Jul. soybean meal closed at $414.90, up $4.40
Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.52, up 17 points
Jul. wheat closed at $6.87 and 3/4, down 6 cents
Jun. live cattle closed at $119.90, down 10 cents
Jun. lean hogs closed at $92.87, up 95 cents
Jun. crude oil closed at $95.16, up 86 cents
Jul. cotton closed at 86.03, down 42 points
Jun. Class III milk closed at $18.45, up 34 cents
Jun. gold closed at $1,386.90, down $9.30
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 15,233.22, down 42.47 points

Bean meal sales top estimates

USDA reports soybean meal export sales for the week ending May 9 were larger than expected, while corn, wheat, and soybeans were within pre-report estimates, and soybean oil saw a net reduction. Physical shipments of soybeans were more than what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the 2012/13 marketing year but corn and wheat fell short of their respective marks.

Wheat came out at 125,000 tons (4.6 million bushels), down 48% from the week ending May 2 and 52% lower than the four week average. The Philippines bought 65,000 tons and Egypt picked up 63,000 tons but unknown destinations canceled on 255,100 tons. With less than a month left in the 2012/13 marketing year for wheat, exports are 986.7 million bushels, compared to 1.022 billion late in 2011/12. Sales of 415,600 tons (15.3 million bushels) for 2013/14 delivery were mainly to unknown destinations (196,900 tons) and Japan (64,800 tons).

Corn was reported at 219,900 tons (8.7 million bushels), 90% more than the previous week but 24% less than the four week average. Mexico purchased 136,700 tons and Japan bought 132,900 tons, with unknown canceling on 86,000 tons. For the marketing year to date, corn sales are 672.6 million bushels, compared to 1.491 billion this time last year. Sales of 38,600 tons (1.5 million bushels) for 2013/14 delivery were to Mexico (31,100 tons) and Panama (7,500 tons).

Soybeans were pegged at 15,300 tons (600,000 bushels), with sales from 1,300 to 10,300 tons partially offset by cancellations of 1,900 and 9,000 tons. So far this marketing year, soybean sales are 1.341 billion bushels, compared to 1.290 billion a year ago. Sales of 346,600 tons (12.7 million bushels) for 2013/14 delivery were to China (275,000 tons), Mexico (45,000 tons), and unknown destinations (20,500 tons).

Soybean meal came out at 82,800 tons, larger than the week before but 44% smaller than the four week average. Colombia picked up 52,000 tons and Venezuela purchased 26,700 tons but unknown destinations canceled on 75,400 tons. At this point in the marketing year, soybean meal sales are 8,792,700 tons, compared to 6,586,400 tons last year. Sales of 109,700 tons for 2013/14 delivery were primarily to Vietnam (94,000 tons).

Soybean oil had a net reduction of 5,300 tons with cancellations offsetting any new sales. 2012/13 soybean oil sales are 827,500 tons, compared to 411,000 in 2011/12.

Net beef sales were reported at 4,700 tons. The listed buyers were Canada (2,800 tons), Hong Kong (1,800 tons), South Korea (1,600 tons), Mexico (1,200 tons), and Taiwan (700 tons). Cancellations were made by Japan (3,000 tons) and Vietnam (600 tons).

Net pork sales totaled 7,200 tons. The reported purchasers were Japan (1,900 tons), Canada (1,700 tons), Mexico (900 tons), South Korea (700 tons), and Hong Kong (600 tons).

Lower finish for grains and oilseeds

Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. However, the nearby supply remains tight and although they have eased, there are still shipping delays out of some of Brazil’s largest ports. Dow Jones Newswires reports Brazil’s Congress is debating a proposal to expand and modernize ports, with unions opposed as it would potentially increase the number of non-union workers. The National Oilseed Processors Association’s April member crush was 120.113 million bushels, down on the month and below pre-report estimates due to that tight near term domestic supply. China’s showing continued interest in new crop U.S. soybeans, buying another 171,000 tons Wednesday. Soybean meal and oil were lower on spillover from beans. USDA’s weekly export sales report is out Thursday at 8:30 AM Eastern/7:30 AM Central. Soybeans are placed at 200,000 to 600,000 tons, meal is seen at 25,000 to 150,000 tons, and oil is pegged at 0 to 15,000 tons.

Corn was lower on fund and technical selling. Most of the Midwest should see good planting progress over the next couple of days ahead of more rain around the region. The nearby supply remains tight, so tight in fact, that purchasers from Asia have made the unusual move of buying from South Africa with Taiwan and Japan both noted as buyers. Ethanol futures were lower. Weekly U.S. corn export sales are expected to be between 200,000 and 550,000 tons.

The wheat complex was lower on fund and technical selling, along with spillover from the dollar. Spring wheat planting conditions have improved thanks to drier weather and warmer soil temperatures, and parts of South Dakota are getting rain. Still, there are a lot of worries about hard red winter condition and some increasing global weather concerns, especially for the Black Sea region and Australia. European wheat was flat, watching weather factors. South Korean flour mills bought 70,000 tons of Australian wheat, Indonesia picked up 45,000 tons of spring wheat from Canada, and DTN states Middle Eastern millers purchased 30,000 tons of Indian wheat. Customs data from the United Kingdom shows March wheat exports at 32,947 tons, down 78% on the month and the lowest for March in more than a decade. France’s Agrimer projects 2012/13 soft wheat production at 35.642 million tons, compared to 33.977 million in 2011/12. Weekly U.S. wheat sales are estimated at 200,000 to 500,000 tons.

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 15, 2013

Jul. corn closed at $6.50 and 3/4, down 1 and 3/4 cents
Jul. soybeans closed at $14.12 and 3/4, down 2 cents
Jul. soybean meal closed at $410.50, down $1.30
Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.35, down 41 points
Jul. wheat closed at $6.93 and 3/4, down 17 cents
Jun. live cattle closed at $120.00, down 77 cents
Jun. lean hogs closed at $91.92, down 67 cents
Jun. crude oil closed at $94.30, up 9 cents
Jul. cotton closed at 86.45, down 47 points
Jun. Class III milk closed at $18.11, up 30 cents
Jun. gold closed at $1,396.20, down $28.30
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 15,275.69, up 60.44 points

Mixed session for grains and oilseeds

Soybeans were mostly firm in consolidation trade. There are the continued uncertainties about demand from China, but Beijing is projecting bigger imports this month and while the NOPA member soybean crush should be below the previous month, that’s due to the tight supply, not a lack of demand. The average guess for the April NOPA crush is 125.2 million bushels. 6% of beans are planted as of Sunday, compared to 24% on average, but it is pretty early to really worry about bean planting. Soybean meal was mixed and oil was mostly firm, also consolidating. China’s National Grain and Oils Information Center estimates 2013 soybean production at 12.3 million tons, down 3.91% from 2012 with a 3.7% reduction in planted area.

Corn was mostly weak on consolidation trade with May CBOT contracts expiring Tuesday. Planting remains quite a bit behind average and while conditions look good over the next day or so, there’s more rain in the forecast for some key growing areas. Past that – there was just no fresh fundamental news. Ethanol futures were lower. South Korea’s Nonghyup Feed Inc. bought 60,000 tons of optional origin corn. China’s National Grain and Oils Information Center projects 2013 corn production at 214 million tons, up 2.82% on the year, but does note planting delays in northeastern China due to cooler than average weather.

The wheat complex was mixed in consolidation trade. USDA’s weekly crop progress report confirmed the poor condition of winter wheat and the slow spring planting pace. Japan is in the market for milling wheat, mostly from the U.S. (34,632 tons Canadian western red spring, 30,966 tons U.S. hard red winter, 29,200 tons U.S. dark northern spring, 28,266 tons Australian standard white, and 24,556 tons U.S. western white). European wheat was just about unchanged with traders watching weather around the former Soviet Union. Russia Ag Ministry reports spring grain planting is at 41.3%, roughly the same as this time last year. The Korea Feed Association’s Busan branch bought 53,000 tons of optional origin feed wheat. China’s National Grain and Oils Information Center sees 2013 wheat production at 121.9 million tons, a year to year increase of 1.09%.

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 14, 2013

Jul. corn closed at $6.52 and 1/2, down 3 cents
Jul. soybeans closed at $14.14 and 3/4, down 4 and 1/2 cents
Jul. soybean meal closed at $411.80, down $3.30
Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.76, up 15 points
Jul. wheat closed at $7.10 and 3/4, up 1 cent
Jun. live cattle closed at $120.77, up 20 cents
Jun. lean hogs closed at $92.60, up $1.67
Jun. crude oil closed at $94.21, down 96 cents
Jul. cotton closed at 86.92, up 88 points
May Class III milk closed at $18.49, down 2 cents
Jun. gold closed at $1,424.50, down $9.80
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 15,215.25, up 123.57 points

Tight supplies support corn and soybeans

Soybeans were higher on commercial buying and short covering. The nearby supply remains extremely tight with no deliveries on the May contract and demand continues to look solid. Gains in the new crop were limited by the recent USDA production projection and increased export competition from South America. USDA reports 6% of soybeans have been planted as of Sunday, compared to 43% a year ago and the five year average of 24%. Soybean meal and oil were higher on spillover from beans.

Corn was higher on short covering and commercial buying. The nearby supply of corn is also tight and demand looks good, with a lot of export interest recently from Asia. South Korean buyers picked up 400,000 tons of corn and feed wheat last week and Nonghyup Feed Inc. Monday issued a tender for 70,000 tons of optional origin corn. According to the USDA, 28% of corn is planted nationally, compared to 85% last year and 65% on average, with 5% emerged, compared to 52% a year ago and 28% on average. Ethanol futures were higher.

The wheat complex was higher on short covering and technical buying. The big focus for Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis continues to be crop development weather. For winter wheat, 29% has headed, compared to 73% last year and 51% on average with 32% of the crop rated good to excellent, unchanged on week, and for spring wheat, 43% is planted, compared to 92% a year ago and 63% on average with 10% emerged, compared to 63% last year and 32% on average. European wheat was higher, watching the U.S. corn planting pace and world weather conditions. According to Ukraine’s Ag Ministry, spring planting is at 94% complete with total grain production projected at 53.4 million tons.