Tag: Business

Growers put a floor in the lamb price

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

It’s nice to be right sometimes, even if it is only for a week. The weekly comment last week suggested the slide in lamb prices was about to halt, and halt it did. The market even bounced back above 600¢ as lamb and sheep yardings recorded another weak week.

Figure 1 shows what lamb producers think of the saleyard values on offer over the last couple of weeks. East Coast lamb yardings spent their second week in a row close to the lowest levels seen in 2017. It’s been over 12 years since lamb yardings were this low in the first two weeks of July, and it seems to have started to bite on the supply of lambs to works.

The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator (ESTLI) bounced this week (figure 2), gaining 27¢ to move back to 605¢/kg cwt. NSW and Victoria both had strong rallies, while in South Australia the trade lamb indicator inexplicably 37¢ to sit in the doldrums at 495¢/kg cwt. SA price are 110¢ behind the ESTLI, and we would expect them to climb back up next week.

In the West trade lambs are keeping pace with their eastern cousins, sitting at 610¢/kg cwt. WA Mutton fell through 400¢ this week, setting an 8 week low of 374¢/kg cwt. East coast mutton values also eased, but remain better than the west, averaging 434¢ in Victoria and NSW. SA has the cheapest mutton as well, sitting at 340¢, and this was up 39¢ for the week.

The week ahead

So was the rise in the ESTLI a dead cat bounce, or a sign of the market steadying. Supply would have to pick up from here to send lamb prices lower, and at this time of year it’s usually hard to find many prime lambs. We might see lamb prices above 600¢ for the rest of July, at least until new season lambs start to hit the market.

Mutton supply is less predictable, as there are always sheep out there is seasonal conditions push them to market. A good rain will see sheep prices rally, but there doesn’t appear to be too much on the forecast.

Forecast says more cattle coming

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

As we move past the half way mark of the year we can start to get an idea of how cattle supply is faring relative to industry forecasts. Those looking to sell cattle in the second half of the year will not only be hoping the weather does the right thing, but also that Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) total cattle slaughter forecasts are an overestimate.

MLA’s latest cattle projection forecasts, released in April, pegged 2017 national cattle slaughter at 7.1 million head. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) the first five months of 2017 saw 2.84 million head of cattle go over the hooks. According to MLA’s weekly slaughter figures June cattle slaughter was around 2% behind 2016.

Figure 1 shows that using the ABS figures, and MLA’s numbers for June, has 2017 slaughter trading well behind 2016. Our estimate puts cattle slaughter for the first half of 2017 at 3.45 million head, 9.4% lower than 2016. More importantly, the total number of cattle slaughtered to the end of June is just 48.6% of MLA’s annual forecast.

For July to December we have applied average seasonality to the number of cattle which still need to be slaughtered to reach 7.1 million head. For the July to December period cattle slaughter will have to lift 5% on last year’s levels.

July 2016 was a very low slaughter month, as were September and October, when compared to the five year average. This is why figure 1 has most of the increased slaughter for the second half of the year in those months.

Figure 2 shows that the herd rebuild in the first five months saw the year on year decline in female slaughter outstrip their male counterparts. Up until May female cattle slaughter was down 16%, while male slaughter was down just 6%. Male slaughter was actually higher than last year in May.

On face value we can say that if supply is to pick up in the second half of the year, were more likely to see an increase in cows and heifers, than steers or bullocks.

Key points:

  • Cattle slaughter for the first half of 2017 has been 9.4% lower than 2016, and not on track to meet forecasts.
  • If Australian cattle slaughter is to meet forecasts, it will have to be 5% higher than last year.
  • An increase in cattle supply is likely to see prices remain below 2016 over the coming months.

What does this mean?

Simple economic theory says that higher supply, and steady demand, will result in lower prices. We are already seeing lower prices than last year in cattle markets, but the question is, how much lower can prices go? Given where export beef markets are sitting, and the fact we should be hitting the seasonal low point for cattle supply, it’s hard to see too much further downside in the short term.

However, if it remains dry we head into September, the increased supply could push the EYCI back towards the low 500¢ level. Downside is likely to be stronger for cows, while heavy slaughter steers are likely to fare better, as supplies haven’t been held back as hard in the first half of the year.

Futures and FX going against us

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

This week we saw the USDA release their July World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimates, the market has reacted to this news. In this update, we take a short look at Chicago futures & the dollar.

The last two sessions in the wheat market have been in the red (figure 1). The market has been on a skyward journey over the past two weeks, however it came to an end when the USDA report came out. The WASDE report was bearish with world stocks up 1.62mmt.

This bearish report, alongside welcome rains in the US has spooked the speculators in the market. However, the SRW futures falling should not be much of a surprise, as the world issues are largely around quality not quantity. It must be noted that we typically expect any falls in production to have a 2-month lag before appearing in the WASDE report. Therefore, the August report might provide some fireworks.

To add insult to injury, the AUD has reached four-month highs (figure 2), barrelling above 77¢. This makes our wheat more expensive to export. The AUD has gained value after better than expected Chinese trade data, and remarks from the US Fed Reserve that interest rates in the US may not be as soon or as frequent as expected.

Next Week/ What does it mean?

The commitment of trader’s report will give an indication into how the speculators in the market are positioned, and we would expect them to have reduced their long positions.

There will be another weekly crop report released, and we would expect the spring crop ratings to be reduced. Although at this time of year, a large degree of quality risk will already be priced in.

Down in the east tanking in the west

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) fell for the sixth straight week, and took most other indicators with it. In the West prices tanked, but it might be an outlier. The story remains the same, with dry weather and relatively high prices encouraging offloading of stock.

Even the 90CL Frozen Cow Indicator got in on the falls this week, it tanked, losing 18¢, or nearly 3%, to 641¢/kg swt. Increased slaughter here is reportedly starting to impact supply, on the positive side, here.

Figure 1 shows that while the 90CL was lower, it’s still well above the EYCI, and this is one of the measures we use to judge cattle value. For the first time in nearly two years the EYCI seems undervalued.

Most other cattle categories drifted lower this week, to the tune of 10-20¢/kg cwt. The exceptions were cows, which managed to gain 5-10¢ in Queensland and Victoria.

Higher grain prices looking to be starting to bite feedlots. While still historically very strong, feeder prices this week fell 5-15¢ to range from 318¢ for Domestic feeder heifers, to 363¢/kg lwt for long-fed export steers. With grain prices now around $100/t higher than harvest, feedlots are obviously going to try and either increase grainfed cattle prices, or decrease feeders.

We suspect it may have been on small numbers, but the Western Young Cattle Indicator (WYCI) fell heavily this week, losing a massive 91¢ to hit a 22 month low of 536¢/kg cwt. Given that over the hooks quotes for yearlings in WA remain in the 580 (Grassfed)-630¢ (MSA) range we’d expect to see a bounce in the WYCI.

The week ahead

The movement in the EYCI this year is really like no other year. It is almost a mirror image of 2016, and cattle producers will be hoping this doesn’t continue. If it does we’ll be headed for sub 550¢ levels. It takes a very short memory if you think 550¢ isn’t an acceptable price. A good general rain will fix the ‘low’ price problem, there just isn’t one on the horizon.

 

Good demand on larger offering

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

It seems wool growers are selling as soon as the wool is shorn, with another large offering coming forward. Despite this, the market performed well despite receiving no help from a rising A$. AWEX report that W.A.’s unseasonaly dry weather has seen growers bringing forward shearing causing the increase in supply this week.

The increase in the Fremantle offering resulted in 46,400 bales offered, with 42,900 sold and 7.7% passed in.

The market was strong, although the finer than 17.5 MPG and the 21 MPG and broader were the leaders. In other categories, crossbred types experienced good price rises of 10 to 20 cents, however the Cardings indicator fell in all centres by 10 to 25 cents.

While the EMI lost 2 cents in the auction, the stronger levels of A$ quoted yesterday at US$0.77 meant that the EMI actually rallied US$0.15.

The sale result this week is a perfect result leading into the recess. Buyers were able to secure plenty of wool and buyers paid higher US$ prices. This sets the scene for exporters to visit customers over the recess and secure orders for the resumption of sales in a climate of optimism; always a much better position that when sales end on a downturn prior to a break.

A note about the crossbred rally this week; while all types experienced price increases it was the better prepared lots that were most keenly sought out. It pays to now spend some time on preparing crossbred wool in the woolshed, as this will either improve the price compared to poorly prepared lots or at the least increase competition.

The week ahead

The market now enters a three-week recess, with sales resuming on the week beginning 7th August in Fremantle, Melbourne & Sydney.

Based on this weeks competition the market should open well in three weeks time, especially if the A$ can lose a little ground.

Newton’s Apple

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

In the late 1600’s Sir Isaac Newton, developed the theory of gravity. It seems that in addition to determining that apples will fall from trees, it seems that what goes up in the grain market also comes down. After a sustained rally over recent weeks, some of the gains have been lost, however there are still good opportunities.

The wheat market has had a stellar performance, with the SRW contracts rising an average of 87¢/bu since the start of last week (across the 6 nearby contracts). The market however lost around a 20¢ (figure 1) overnight. The market had become quite overbought in recent days, and it seems that speculators in the market have started to take some of their profits.

In figure 2, the three main US futures (spot) contracts are displayed. In this chart we can see that the rally for most of June was largely in MGEX spring wheat futures, before some flows into SRW. The reality is that the worst weather issues are currently around the high protein wheat (mgex), which globally is likely to be in demand, however we still sit on ample low protein wheat.

Although the market has fallen, it is still at an attractive level compared to the period since harvest. There are ample opportunities, for the grower looking further forward. As discussed in the analysis piece “Should we lock a far forward swap”, the high carry in the market place allows us to lock in close to a $300mt swap for 16 months time.

In reality, we do not know what will happen between now and then, there could be massive or miniscule harvests in 2018. However, starting the 2018/19 season at those levels traditionally would be attractive.

Next Week

The USDA will release their WASDE report in the middle of the week, which will likely see a reduction in crops in US, Australia and Western Europe. However, to what extent is the question, and what difference will that make to overall stocks.

The US crop condition will likely also show a reduction in crop condition, but with harvest in full swing it is likely with a negative result expected that this is priced in.

No rain, no grain no price gain for feeders

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

Grain prices have been on the rise. So what? A cattle producer might ask. How will it impact me? It depends what sort of cattle are being produced, but if it’s feeder cattle, rising grain prices are not good news.

Lotfeeders buy a large proportion of young cattle, and the other major input into a grainfed steer is obviously grain. The higher the grain price, the less money lotfeeders can pay for feeder cattle.

Figure 1 shows that feeder cattle prices have historically had a strong relationship with feed barley prices, but we can also see how this relationship has shifted since 2015. As grain prices rise, feeder cattle prices fall. The trendline on figure 1 shows that from 2003-2015, on average, a $50 rise in grain prices would equate to a 4.5¢/kg lwt fall in the feeder cattle price.

The trend became more pronounced at higher cattle prices after 2015. For the last 2.5 years a $50 rise in grain prices has, on average, equated to a 36¢/kg lwt fall in feeder cattle prices.

Over the last month east coast wheat prices have rallied significantly. New crop APW wheat has rallied $30 over the last month, while feed barley is up by a similar amount. Figure 1 shows there is actually a reasonably wide range of values of feeder prices at any given grain price, and this is due to other fundmentals.

Figure 2 shows how dire the move in grain prices might just be for lotfeeders. While many will have grain pre-purchased, those buying barley at current values, and paying 360¢/kg lwt for feeder cattle, are likely to be losing money.

Fortunately for feeder producers, young cattle supply is at its tightest level for the year over the coming two months. This may support feeder prices in the short term, but in the long term, higher feed prices are likely to start to bite young cattle values.

Key points:

  • Grain prices have a negative relationship with feeder cattle prices.
  • The strong rise in grain prices is likely to have pushed lotfeeder margins into the red.
  • Feeder cattle prices need to fall 30-40¢ to counteract the rise in grain prices.

What does this mean?

If grain prices and grainfed cattle prices remain around current levels, what price do lotfeeders need? On figure 2, lotfeeders need about $80-100/hd to break-even after overheads. The good news is it’s not a disaster. If feeder cattle prices fall to 330-340¢/kg lwt, it will be enough to see lotfeeders move back into the black.

On the upside, cattle producers growing heavy steers might actually find some support for finished cattle prices. Rising costs of production of grainfed beef generally tighten the supply of finished cattle, and push prices higher. Additionally, the decrease in the price of finished cattle, is unlikely to be reflected in the price of finished cattle, if it is due to grain price rises.

An Ovine slippery slide nearing the bottom

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

It doesn’t take a rocket analyst to work out why sheep and lamb prices have been sliding for the last month. The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator (ESTLI) this week broke through the 600¢ mark as the supply of stock direct to works appears to be reaching a peak.

Figure 1 is not a pretty sight for livestock or grain producers in the wheat-sheep belts of Australia. In particular the Riverina had its lowest rainfall June on record, and this is a time which is usually pretty reliable.

It wasn’t supply at the saleyards which saw the ESTLI and National Mutton Indicator (NMI) tank this week. Figure 2 shows that lamb supply at saleyards fell heavily, and the story was the same for sheep. Regardless the ESTLI lost 47¢ and Mutton 39¢ with the ESTLI at a 6 month low of 578¢/kg cwt, and the NMI a four month low.

The fall in saleyard supply back up the anecdotal evidence of processors being booked up with sheep and mutton flooding out of the NSW and Northern SA as the dry begins to bite, and prices remain historically ok. This is at a time when at least one major processor is shut for winter maintenance.

Interestingly in the West, where the dry has been pretty bad also, lamb prices have fallen but now sit at a premium to the ESTLI (figure 3) of 605¢/kg cwt. The WA Mutton market has been receiving support from the east coast, as it was trading at a large discount, but the now the east coast is now only around 40¢ better, which at $8 per head for a 20kg cwt sheep, is likely to stop the trucks heading across the Nullabor.\

The week ahead

Given the state of the flock, and the flock rebuilding intentions, it’s likely the rapid decline of the last month will come to a halt soon. Old season lamb supplies have to be close to exhausted, and new season stocks are a slow build from now on.

Expect sheep and lamb markets to find a floor soon, with further declines to come in late August and September if the season doesn’t turn around.

Heavy steers holding young cattle folding

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

It was a better week for rainfall, with sporadic showers across the country, but it didn’t help the young cattle market. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) continued its fall this week, but there was some support for slaughter cattle.

The EYCI fell a further 10¢ this week to hit a 12 week low of 610.75¢/kg cwt. This price is not far off a 12 month low, and now around 7% below the same time last year. A small rise in yardings was likely responsible for the fall in the EYCI, but there might be some waning restocker and feeder demand.

It doesn’t seem to be demand or supply of slaughter cattle which is sending the EYCI lower. Figure 1 shows that while the East Coast Heavy Steer price has reached the stratospheric level of last year, it hasn’t been falling in line with the EYCI lately.

Figure 2 shows that there is still some way to go for heavy steers to reach the ‘normal’ spread to the EYCI for this time of year. The NSW Heavy Steer has rallied from near a 20% discount to the EYCI to an 11% discount. The average for this time of year is 2%. If the spread returns to 2%, it will mean the EYCI has to fall to 560¢, or the Heavy steer will have to rise to 600¢.

Over in the West the slide in the Western Young Cattle Indicator has halted, and it even rallied a bit this week, finishing at 627¢/kg cwt.

The 90CL Frozen Cow Indicator was up 10¢ in a short week in the US to 656¢/kg swt. This is a 20 month high, and 9% stronger than this time last year. Processors are definitely doing a better job of keeping a lid on prices this winter.

The week ahead

Rainfall is forecast to again be sporadic, not really providing too much impetus for prices rises. The cold weather should start to bite on the finished cattle market, although with record cattle on feed, and rising grain prices we could see more cattle from that sector.

Young cattle supply doesn’t come from nowhere, and this is likely to support values in the short term. If the late winter and spring does fail however, the 550¢ mark is shaping as an initial target.

Wool gets by with a little help from a friend

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

Again, the occasional, yet extreme demand for wool with good measurements (low mid breaks & good tensile strength) contributed to a mixed message out of this week’s wool market. The better types pushed the overall market to new levels while lower style wool battled to keep pace.

This week only Melbourne & Sydney were selling resulting in the smallest offering for the year at just over 22,000 bales. Buyers were active and purchased 21,104 bales although 5.4% was still passed in. The EMI improved A$0.27 for the week while the easing A$ resulted in a more modest US$0.12 lift.

Week–on–week comparisons showed that all categories (except 32 MPG) posted gains. However, in percentage terms it was again the medium Merino types that ended the week with the biggest lifts.

AWEX reported that the week just past was the lowest offering of Merino fleece types in over 8 years. This is reflecting the demise of Merino flocks over the recent time. As Mecardo has previously outlined, this is a concern for the long-term sustainability of the Australian wool industry as continued lower supply must translate into reduced processing capacity. Over time this will see wool continue to lose its position in the fibre market on volume. The challenge then will be to position wool as an even more niche product.

Impacting on the declining supply is the strong demand for sheepmeat resulting in lamb prices at record levels. As reported by Mecardo, with the big economies in Asia positioned to continue their appetite for Australian sheep & lamb encouraging sheep producers to continue their focus on meat this demand is likely to continue. Of course, a modern Merino flock is also taking good advantage of the high meat prices, so for those who have stayed the course with Merino sheep these are indeed good times.

The week ahead

Next week Fremantle returns to the selling roster and a larger offering of 37,000 bales is rostered – figure 2. It is with some confidence that wool growers should approach wool sales as a softening A$ and tight supply is encouraging wool processors to compete strongly.