Hello, Partners,
It’s no secret that the market is currently experiencing a sluggish pace of growth. One significant challenge we’re facing is the escalating transportation costs, driven by customer demands for more affordable products. Stay tuned as we explore these trends and their implications in greater detail.
Hottest products of the week
Native Starches
In the current market dynamics, buyers are consistently pushing for lower prices. Interestingly, while the prices of most Native Starches, excluding Potato Starch, are on a downward trend, Modified Waxy Corn Starch remains resistant to price reductions. This unique pattern underscores the evolving preferences and challenges within the starch industry, as buyers seek cost-effective solutions not compromising on quality.
Modified Starches
Modified Potato and Modified Waxy Corn Starches are experiencing a surge in demand, particularly among Cheese manufacturers. This increased interest highlights the vital role modified starches play in quality and functionality enhancement of cheese production, reflecting a growing trend in the industry.
Proteins
The demand for Vital Wheat Gluten is slow, with clients requesting quotes in large volumes for 2024. Large companies are also seeking tender offers for their VWG needs. In addition, there is growing interest in Potato Protein for feed applications, with tender offers for Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. These factors are impacting the protein market, while the livestock Feed industry faces declining prices and overstocked inventories due to reduced consumption. Challenges related to imports from Ukraine into the EU further complicate the situation for local producers.
Sweeteners
Sugar prices have been showing fluctuations in recent times. When it comes to Chinese products like Sorbitol and Erythritol, the prices have remained stable, showing no significant fluctuations. These observations provide a snapshot of the current dynamics in the sweetener market, with various factors at play.
Oils
Both Palm Oil and Coconut Oil are currently in high demand, particularly within the bakery manufacture sector. These oils have become essential ingredients in various baked goods, reflecting an ongoing trend in the industry.
What else?
Europe
Poland
Poland’s Development Minister, Waldemar Buda, has warned that Poland could block the import of Ukrainian grain if the European Commission refuses to extend the current grain embargo on Ukraine. The embargo, covering Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower products, received an extension from the EU Commission until September 15. Poland’s concern stems from the need to support its own farmers post-harvest, making it hesitant to allow Ukrainian grain imports.
Ukraine
In a crucial development, a cargo vessel named RESILIENT AFRICA carrying 3,000 tons of wheat has departed from the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk. This marks the first grain shipment since a previous deal collapsed, testing Ukraine’s capacity to unblock its seaports for grain exports. The move comes as Ukraine aims to release ships trapped in its ports since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and bypass a de facto blockade initiated after Russia abandoned a grain export deal with Kyiv.
The Americas
Brazil
Sugar futures had mixed results on international exchanges, with New York’s ICE Futures seeing red for the most liquid raw sugar contracts, while London’s October 2023 contract showed a modest increase. Additionally, reports of a 14% decline in sugar production in India’s Maharashtra district due to a dry August could impact global sugar prices by potentially limiting exports and supporting already high global prices. In the domestic market, sugar crystal prices rose, with a 2.02% increase in the Cepea/Esalq Indicator, while ethanol prices experienced a slight uptick of 0.15% according to the Daily Paulínia Indicator.
Brazil & USA
On Thursday (September 14), corn futures prices on the Brazilian Exchange (B3) remained relatively stable, fluctuating between R$ 53.41 and R$ 60.96 around 10:07 AM (Brasília time). Meanwhile, international corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) started the day with minor declines, with December 2023 at US$ 4.81 (down 0.75 points), March 2024 at US$ 4.95 (down 1.25 points), and May 2024 at US$ 5.03 (down 1.50 points), as reported by analyst Ben Potter from Farm Futures, highlighting the potential impact of the absence of new supply and demand signals.
Asia & Oceania
India
The Indian government has reduced the wheat stock limit for traders and wholesalers to 2,000 tonnes, aiming to combat artificial scarcity and stabilize prices during the festive season. Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra highlighted that the country has a surplus of 30 LT of wheat beyond buffer stocks for market intervention, with an additional 57 LT already deployed for such interventions.
Japan
The Japanese government has announced a significant 11.1% reduction in the average price of imported wheat sold to businesses, marking the first such reduction in three years. Starting in October, the average price will be approximately 68,240 yen (around $460) per tonne, down from the previous April-September period. This decision comes as global wheat prices have been stabilizing following a surge triggered by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which had led to concerns about supply disruptions and pushed prices to record highs of around $14 a bushel in March 2022. Despite the recent decline, ongoing concerns about the global wheat market, especially Russia’s growing influence, continue to raise questions about future price dynamics.
