27 Jul, 2021
Greg KostalJuly 27, 2021Uncategorized

July 26-21 India Lowers Lentil Import Tariffs

India government just lowered the lentil import tariff by 10% and lower the Agriculture Infrastructure Development (CESS) by 10%.   A net 20+2% import tariff reduction.    Effective date looks to be July 27, with no mention of an expiry date either in writing or from parliamentary video feed.  An expiry date would be preferred but means little right now because all know that amendments can occur at anytime. Given India stock limits and risk of policy amendments at a whims notice, trading demand is unlikely to carry same anticipatory behavior as before.  Further, volume and fluidity is impaired because container logistics are a mess.  Yet this policy announcement underscores a core fundamental piece to big picture view…..India is pulse deficit.  Smaller to mediocre crop size in Canada should harmonize with India being a greater import threat to sustain upward price risk.  Maybe a little sooner now in context of front loading trading demand.

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    26 Jun, 2021
    Greg KostalJune 26, 2021Uncategorized

    June 2621: How Does Spring Wheat Resolve?

    It’s too early to know if the Hard Red Spring wheat story is only about volume, protein or both.  Volume for sure as North American spring wheat beginning supply is poised to be the lowest since 12/13 (for now), but protein can come into play because US Hard Red Winter protein is weak.  The last US spring wheat wreck was 2017 and it was a low HRS & HRW protein year.  Stress ups odds for higher protein HRS outcome and can skew price discovery.  Typically when in prime weather chaos, going with perception of crop size getting smaller or bigger is useful.  But keep in mind that this isn’t the first high priced HRS rodeo that millers have been too, and that spring wheat is the only imbalanced world wheat class.

    Research on this just completed.  Please contact me for more detail.

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    25 May, 2021
    Greg KostalMay 25, 2021Uncategorized

    May 25-21 An Angle on Canada Canola Demand

    Renewable Fuel is a game changer.  You needn’t look any further than the recent four Canadian crush facility announcements that will add 5.5 MMT of crush capacity in 2024.  Current vegoil price grid sports massive divergence between world and North America, with monster refining premiums also having much to say about valuation.  Yet price discovery isn’t only about Renewable Fuel.  We must be aware of and try to understand the value measuring differences and demand percentages involved for that segment of canola demand that can tap into the Renewable Fuel space versus that segment that basically extracts value offshore.  This has been researched.  Please contact me for more detail

     

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    24 Apr, 2021
    Greg KostalApril 24, 2021Uncategorized

    April 24-21: Understanding Cycles with Red Lentils

    Four basic market scenarios that define core lentil price cycles.  This concept is applicable to many commodities in our Ag space, it’s just that lentils are cleaner to understand because of their uniqueness and limited substitution traits.  It has to do with directional change with regard to importer and exporter inventory.  Please call or send me an email and I’ll share the detail.

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    16 Mar, 2021
    Greg KostalMarch 16, 2021Uncategorized

    Rye Has a Task March 16, 2021

    Tweak or challenge assumptions within a rye supply/demand as you desire, and the conclusion is the same.  A combination of supply being too large and discretionary demand expansion being too slow means core rye pricing will be as a feed grain in year ahead.

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    27 Feb, 2021
    Greg KostalFebruary 27, 2021Uncategorized

    India Chana Harvest – Important to our pulse space Feb 27-21

    India government released its Second Advance Production Estimates this week for a number of crops.  Chana production, equivalent to desi chickpea type, whose harvest has just begun and will be in full swing last half March, was pegged at 11.6 MMT versus 11.1 MMT last year if believe the government, and 9.5-10.0 MMT if believe the trade.  A number of industry participants believe this year’s chana crop is closer to 9.5-10.0 MMT.  Difference would have significant market implications that apply to all classes of chickpeas, lentils and possibly field peas.  It’s must have knowledge and implications if a Canadian pulse grower.  Shoot me an email and I can shed insight.

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    16 Feb, 2021
    Greg KostalFebruary 16, 2021Uncategorized

    Renewable Fuels Link to Canola Feb 16-21

    Renewable fuel is mainly a US domestic development that has been with us for some time, but whose respective contribution and potential vegoil feedstock demand shifts are quietly accelerating under our nose.  What makes the situation unique is that it is either poorly understood or is on the radar of the minority.  Driven mainly by California policy today, it has important ramifications to any Canadian with a canola interest.  This has been researched with fresh insight.  Please drop me a an email for more more detail.

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    30 Jan, 2021
    Greg KostalJanuary 30, 2021Uncategorized

    21/22 Crop Budgets

    Looking for a reasonable price to use for 21/22 budgeting purposes in Western Canada?

    It starts with a set of assumptions, an understanding of risks and then piece it out by commodity.  Thinking needs to be radically different than most years because of demand bull conditions.

    Please send me an email, and I can send you more detail.

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    22 Jan, 2021
    Greg KostalJanuary 22, 2021Uncategorized

    Urea Prices on the Rise

    As measured by the port of New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA), urea prices are up about US $70 per short ton since the New Year.  Reasons include better than expected demand in India and abroad due to strong commodity prices, and disrupted supply, some logistical, some political and some linked to limited anticipatory planning to have larger scale production program in place for deferred shipping slots.  Canadian retail prices are adjusting.

    This can get fixed by summer but unlikely prior to the North American spring application time.  I just completed a couple reports on this.  Shoot me an email if would like more depth.

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    19 Jan, 2021
    Greg KostalJanuary 19, 2021Uncategorized

    Wheat A Seller’s Market Jan 19-21

    There’s a little more going on in wheat than meets the eye. It’s not the first time that Russia has initiated an export tax, last one being in Dec-2014, but market conditions then were different. Russia price grid adjusted inclusive of farmer accepting lower price because importers had ample wheat buying choices. Like most years, that was a supply-push year. Not so today. Most important observation is this. Statistics or supply/demand’s won’t convey it, but wheat market dynamics have shifted to a rare seller’s market.

    Shoot me an email and I’ll send you the detail

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