MARKET OUTLOOK – WHEAT

Wheat markets picking up ground this week and leaving the contract lows a little further in the rearview mirror for Chicago and Kansas City wheat. Minneapolis wheat has its lows a littlecloser as new ones were set last week. Minneapolis wheat in Monday’s trade action at the close is also the weakest of the contracts, with Chicago and Kansas City up double digits while Minneapolis wheat is struggling to hold onto its gains for the session. Overall, wheat markets continue to be fed new rhetoric towards larger crops. Argentinian and Australian harvest is underway, and the coming weeks will determine the crop size. The market well understands that these two nations have big crops coming and the market will look forconfirmation of these figures. Demand is the big figure to be watching. U.S. and Canadian demand appear very strong for early in the shipping season and Canadian wheat is being exported at a very rapid pace with what looks to be good export outlook for the near future as well. The market will be looking to see if we can expedite Russian/Black Sea shipments as there is a sizeable crop to move out of that region. Global wheat bids are relatively stable, some fewdollar moves in FOB values each week but relative stability. We are transitioning into winter exporting season for northern hemisphere producers. Producer bids for spring wheat in the Canadian prairies still have been increasing and basis on the Canadian prairies is doing the heavy lifting. We are still on hold for making big sales for now but are beginning to show interest if 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 will only improve export prospects for the short term. Provincial reports point to the crop being larger than Statistics Canada with Saskatchewan provincial crop report pointing to a 41 bpa average for durum vs a 33 bpa average just one year ago. Market prices have stabilized recently domestically following harvest lows. Production is expected widely within the market to surpass Statistics Canada’s 6.5 mmt crop. Crop prices domestically have stabilized and are seeing crop prices in the $7.75+ per bushel range across Saskatchewan and have picked up around $0.25 per bushel over the past month. 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 is 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 strong and pricing wellinto EU and North Africa.