China hits back where it hurts - soybeans

China is the world’s largest soybean consumer, with the country estimated to consume around 111 million tonnes (mt) of soybeans over 2017/18, which is equivalent to 32% of total global soybean consumption. The bulk of this demand is met by imports, with the country estimated to import 97mt over 2017/18. This is a significant number when you consider that global import demand totals around 151mt.

Developments between the US and China will certainly play into the hands of Brazilian farmers

The US is the largest soybean producer in the world and a key supplier of soybeans to China. Historically the US was the largest supplier to China, although over recent years this has changed, with China increasingly turning to South America, due to the strong growth in Brazilian soybean output. In 2010, the US met 43% of Chinese import demand, however, this fell to 34% in 2017.

Now with US soybeans set to attract a further 25% import tariff, the trend that we have seen over the last few years, is likely to pick-up in pace, with Chinese buyers turning as much as they can to alternative supplies.

For the US this trend is clearly not good news, with farmers finding it more difficult to find homes for their beans. The US exported 49.1mt between January and November 2017, of which 27.9mt went to China. The next biggest buyer is the EU, in a distant second, importing just 4.05mt over the same period.

However, seasonality in northern and southern hemisphere supply should offer some respite to US farmers. The bulk of Brazilian supply is exported over the northern hemisphere summer, while US export supply is at its peak over the northern hemisphere winter. So Chinese buyers will still need to turn to the US during the low point in Brazilian supply. Although we think Chinese buyers will try stock up on South American soybeans as much as possible during the peak of supply from the region.

In the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Prospective Plantings report last week, the agency estimated that planted soybean area in the US would exceed corn area. The soybean/corn ratio gave a clear sign to farmers to plant more soybeans. However this latest development should mean further pressure on Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybeans, leading to a weakening in the soybean/corn ratio moving forward, this should see some farmers revise their planting intentions, and instead look to plant more corn at the expense of soybeans.

It will be tight for some farmers, as many would have made the decision and the commitment already to plant soybeans, but those with flexibility will likely reassess their planting ideas for the upcoming crop.

Brazil is looking at another strong soybean harvest this season. Last season they produced a record 114mt, and in Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento's (CONAB) latest estimates for the 2017/18, they expect output to total 113mt. It does seem as though there is upside to this number, with the agency having revised higher the crop several times, while some other analysts are forecasting that Brazil will actually set a new record this season.

So developments between the US and China will certainly play into the hands of Brazilian farmers, with China increasingly turning towards them. Given the strong crop last year, stocks within Brazil are at elevated levels, and with another strong crop expected, export availability is set to increase.