WASDE update: Mixed bag for grains

The USDA has increased its estimates for US corn production by 43m bushels to 15.06bn bushels for 2021/22 on account of better yields. This was slightly above the 15.05bn bushels the market was expecting. US domestic demand for corn also increased by around 50m bushels to 12.33bn bushels, as stronger ethanol demand is likely to help corn consumption. The net impact on corn stocks was only marginal, with ending stocks revised down from 1,500m bushels to 1,493m bushels. This is above the roughly 1,484m bushels the market was expecting.

Globally, the USDA has increased global production estimates by 6.4mt on account of better production in the EU, Argentina and the US. Production estimates for the EU and Argentina were increased by around 1.55mt and 1.5mt respectively on better yields and higher acreage due to late-planted corn. The USDA also increased global corn demand estimates by 5.6mt, with major increases coming from the EU (+1.2mt) and the US (+1.3mt). Global corn inventory estimates at the end of 2021/22 were raised from 301.7mt to 304.4mt, largely on account of an upward revision in beginning stocks (+1.9mt) and somewhat larger revisions to production estimates. The market was expecting a reading of closer to 300mt.

Overall, with larger than expected ending stocks for both the US and the global balance the report was moderately bearish for corn.

For soybeans, the major change from the USDA was in export estimates due to soft demand from China. The agency revised down its expectations for US soybean exports by 40m bushels to 2.05b bushels for 2021/22 (down around 10% YoY). Domestic demand estimates were largely left unchanged at around 2.31b bushels. On the supply side, the USDA lowered domestic soybean production estimates by around 23m bushels for the year due to weaker yields. On balance, US soybean stocks at the end of 2021/22 were revised up, by 20m bushels to 340m bushels. This was still below the roughly 362m bushels the market was expecting.

The global soybean balance saw revisions from Argentina, where production estimates were revised down from 51mt to 49.5mt due to lower acreage. Export estimates from Argentina were also reduced by around 1mt; although this was offset by higher shipments from Brazil. China’s soybean import estimates were revised down by around 1mt to 100mt as softer crushing margins and subdued demand for animal feed could weigh on Chinese soybean consumption. Global soybean inventories at the end of 2021/22 was revised down by around 0.8mt to 103.8mt; the market was expecting inventory estimates to be revised up by around 1mt to 105.6mt.

The report was moderately bullish for soybeans, with inventory numbers coming in below market expectations.

The USDA left the US domestic wheat balance largely unchanged. Ending stocks were revised marginally higher from 580m bushels to 583m bushels. USDA’s numbers were largely in-line with market expectations of around 581m bushels. Both production and demand estimates were unchanged at 1.65b bushels and 1.16b bushels respectively. Import and export estimates were revised down by 10m bushels and 15m bushels respectively.

The global balance sheet continues to tighten for 2021/22. Ending stocks were revised down by another 1.4mt to 275.8mt. The market was expecting an ending stocks number of around 276.5mt. Global demand estimates were revised higher by around 0.4mt with increments coming from Russia, Iran and Turkey. On the other hand, supply estimates were downgraded by around 0.6mt, mainly due to lower supplies from the EU (-1mt), the UK (-0.7mt) and Uzbekistan. However, Russia’s production estimates were increased by around 2mt on the back of higher yields.

Once again, the USDA’s monthly WASDE report has proved supportive for wheat prices.