Commodity Blog

Posts Tagged ‘import’

Aluminum producers lowered the fee for Japanese buyers after China resumed halted capacity and supply in Asia rose as smelters began production. Premiums for the three months ending June 30 fell to $122 per metric ton down from $125 to $130 this quarter (the highest level in 14 years). The premium for Good Western-grade aluminum ingot more than doubled in 2009 as record purchases by China and decreased supplies from Russia caused shortage of the metal in Asia.

China, the largest buyer of copper in the world, decreased import after record purchases in 2009 as local smelters restarted production. Aluminum smelters in China, the largest producer of the industrial metal, resumed 5 million tons per annum of idled capacity in past year as profit margins improved with increasing prices. China’s purchases of refined aluminum dropped to 40,059 metric tons in January from 42,106 tons in December as the nation have ample inventories after it have bought more metal than necessary on outlook for a demand recovery.

Delivery for aluminum in three months rose 0.3 percent to $2,225 per ton by 15:57 on the London Metal Exchange. The price has reached previously a 15-month high.

Sugar futures gained after Pakistan increased purchases. Other importers may follow Pakistan, increasing demand for the sweetener. May futures for raw-sugar delivery gained $0.0072 (3 percent) to $0.244 per pound on ICE Futures U.S. in New York.

Wheat futures went up as the dollar’s decline boosted appeal of the U.S. commodities. The greenback fell 0.6 percent versus a basket of six major currencies today, supporting commodities. May futures for wheat delivery went up $0.08 (1.6 percent) to $5.1375 per bushel on CBoT.

Hog futures advanced as U.S. pork prices continued to rally, signaling that meat inventories are declining. Increasing U.S. exports may further lower pork supplies, spurring hogs price. April futures for hog settlement rose $0.009 (1.3 percent) to $0.7035 per pound on CME.

Copper rose in London on outlook for increasing demand in Japan, the fourth biggest buyer of the metal in the world. Japan’s gross domestic product grew 4.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Imports of the metal in China declined as much as 546,000 metric tons. Yet analysts say that this decline can be more than offset by rising global demand. Three-month delivery for copper rose $70 (1 percent) to $6,880 per ton by 16:52 on the London Metal Exchange.

Wheat futures fell in Paris on speculation that rising global stockpiles will decrease prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that global wheat stockpiles will increase from 164 million metric tons a year earlier to 195.9 million tons by the end of May as supply exceeds demand for a second year. Prices may yet go up with farmers’ reluctance to sell at current prices and good European Union exports. March delivery for milling wheat fell 0.4 percent to 125.25 euros ($170.35) per metric ton today on NYSE Liffe.

Coffee slid New York as the stronger dollar curbed demand for commodities as an alternative investment. The greenback gained for the first time this week versus a basket of six major currencies. March futures for Arabica-coffee delivery slid $0.006 (0.5 percent) to $1.298 per pound by 9:51 on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. Coffee price may tumble to $1.20 if the dollar rally will continue, yet the coffee may rise with deficit of high quality coffee and in case of dollar decline. The coffee price increased previous year because adverse weather harmed harvests in Brazil and Colombia.

Sugar rose on speculation that farmers in India will not significantly increase planting of cane. A less-than-expected increase in planting area can lead to import of sugar by India, supporting prices. March futures for raw-sugar delivery rose 1.8 percent to $0.2707 per pound on ICE.

Sugar futures rose on speculation that the global deficit will be higher than forecasted. Analysts say that “sugar has favorable technicals and fundamentals”. March futures for raw-sugar delivery added $0.0012 (0.4 percent) to $0.294 per pound on ICE Futures U.S. in New York.

Wheat futures gained in Chicago on forecast that supplies may decline because farmers in the U.S. cut selling after prices dropped last month to the lowest level since June. Prices are also aided by expectation of rising demand for U.S. wheat. March futures for wheat delivery went up $0.125 (2.6 percent) to $4.8725 per bushel on CBoT.

Cotton prices rose, ending the longest decline since September 2008, on outlook for improving demand in China, the biggest buyer of the fiber in the world. The area planted with cotton may decrease by 4.9 percent and reductions in the crop supply may cause Chinese textile producers to increase imports. March futures for cotton delivery gained $0.0104 (1.5 percent) to $0.6926 per pound on ICE.

White sugar price reached to the highest level since 1989 in London as concern about supply deficit forces India and other importers to increase stockpiles. India, the biggest consumer in the world, are going to import at least 7 million tons of sugar this season, third of that number being white, or refined, sugar. Worldwide demand for sugar will exceed supply by 13.5 million metric tons in the 2009–10 season. March delivery for white sugar gained $11.20 (1.5 percent) to $743.90 per ton on the Liffe exchange.

Analysts predict that gold may decline as a stronger dollar eroded appeal of the precious metal as an inflation hedge. The U.S. currency rose 0.8 percent versus the euro today. If the greenback rally continues, gold is going to go down. Immediate delivery for gold was little changed, remaining at $1,133.50 per ounce by 11:12 in New York.

Analysts predict that soybeans imports in China may remain high in March as ”lower costs boost crushing margins”. The margin rose to $46 per metric ton by January 13th. Imports of soybeans in China are expected to reach 4.2 million tons in January causing concern about oversupply.

Some analysts forecast shortages for crude oil as supply is unable to catch up rebounding demand. Worldwide oil consumption will return to pre-crisis level at the third quarter of 2010, while projects for new oil sources are “still lagging as a result of the credit crunch”. Crude oil futures reached $78 per barrel level today in New York.

Demand for steel may drop with lending cuts in China, the biggest consumer in the world. Steel production in China increased 13 percent to 565 million tons in 2009 as demand from builders, home-appliance manufacturers and automakers was boosted by China’s $586 billion stimulus spending. China’s steel output may rise 5 to 10 percent exceeding 600 million metric tons in 2010.

Analysts predict that crude oil’s rally will stop at $88 level. The level of $88 was a support in 2007 and at the end of 2008. Price support level at a falling market may become resistance when prices are beginning to rise. Oil rose to $83.52 per barrel (a highest level in 14 months) on January 6th.

Sugar prices increased the fourth time this week reaching the highest level in almost three decades on expectation that countries including India, the greatest buyer in the world, are going to raise imports to ease a growing supply shortage. As a result of surge in global prices sugar mills in India are forced to delay imports because high prices made overseas purchases unprofitable. Sugar futures more than doubled in the past year, touching a 29-year high yesterday in New York, as adverse weather damaged cane crops in India and Brazil, biggest growers in the world. March futures for raw-sugar delivery gained $0.0031 (1.1 percent) to $0.2831 per pound by 11:19 on ICE Futures U.S. in New York.

Gold imports in India, the greatest buyer in the world, may wane in December because demand went down on high prices. Imports by India expected to fall to 30 metric tons, down from 32 metric tons in November. Analysts forecast that “demand will remain low until prices fall”. Bullion for immediate-delivery rose to $1,096.66 by 9:56 in Mumbai.

Analysts predict that retail-food prices in the U.S. will rise about 2 percent this year, curbed by declining production. The outlook for food inflation in 2010 is about 3.5 percent. Beef and veal prices dropped at a rate of 0.5 to 1.5 percent this year. Pork prices fell 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Prices for fruits and vegetables slid 1.5 to 2.5 percent this year.

Refined copper imports in China, the greatest buyer in the world, rebounded in November with rising domestic prices and increasing demand. China may increase imports to 200,000 tons per month in the first quarter of 2010 as high domestic prices made purchases from overseas sellers cheaper. Delivery for copper in three months on LME dropped 0.6 percent to $6,895 per ton by 15:21 in Shanghai.

Corn slid and soybeans went down as the dollar gained, curbing the attractiveness of commodities as an alternative investment. Analysts says that the strong dollar “is encouraging some speculators to reduce long positions”. March futures for corn delivery went down $0.055 (1.4 percent) to $3.945 per bushel as of 10:32 on CBT. March futures for soybean delivery slid $0.1075 (1.1 percent) to $9.9775 per bushel in Chicago.

Crude oil rose as the dollar dropped and on speculation about global economic restoration. A rising dollar cut demand for commodities as an alternative investment. February delivery for crude oil gained $0.62 (0.8 percent) to $74.34 per barrel by 13:13 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.