Corn price forecast: Will the grain pass $8 again?
Corn had initially returned to pre-conflict prices as the result of an agreement between Ukraine and Russia that has allowed exports of grain and other agricultural products to resume from selected Ukraine Black Sea ports, following a five-month blockade. However, Moscow announced it would suspend its participation in the Black Sea deal following a Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet in Russia-annexed Crimea, which caused a rally earlier this month.
A recent diplomatic agreement will see Ukraine’s maritime food exports continuing for at least another four months. Russia is yet to openly acknowledge the extension of the agreement.
“The grain and oilseed markets rose sharply overnight, led by wheat, as food shortage fears rise again after Russia pulls out of the Black Sea trade agreement,” StoneX chief commodities economist Arlan Suderman said in a client note provided by Reuters.
Pressures from lower crop condition ratings and severe global droughts have kept prices high and the commodity is currently trading 13% above the opening price this year, and approximately 70% above the 2020 opening price of $3.915.
How far will these pressures push the price of the grain, and what is the latest corn price forecast?
Supply and demand dynamics
Like a number of commodities, the corn price is driven by supply and demand factors, largely dominated by US agricultural policies according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Other effects on the supply side include seasonal factors on the outcome of harvests, beginning stocks of corn and yield. Demand factors include the industrial use of grains in animal feed and for human consumption, as well as supply side effects in foreign countries affecting export demand.
Prior to the great financial crisis, the price of corn futures typically fluctuated between $2.00 and $3.00, except for the 1996 grain shock which pushed the price above $5.00. The financial crash set off more insecurities in 2008, causing another spike to $7.37.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic pressures, stagnant productivity for corn production and some disappointing harvests put upward pressure on corn prices in 2011, bringing them to record highs of around $8.06 by 2012. Since then, even in more stable times, the grain had settled at a new, higher support just above $3.00.
The price of corn skyrocketed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the commodity met a new nine-year high, sparking concerns about the price of food for the world’s poorest communities. Since then, the United Nations food agency’s world price index has fallen for a fifth consecutive month as improved supply prospects came into effect with the Russia-Ukraine grain agreement.
The USDA estimates 55% of the US corn crop is in good or excellent condition, down from a 61% reading on 25 July. Severe droughts have also cut into crop yields, and the Chicago Board of Trade corn futures price recorded a two-month high on 29 August at $6.83 a bushel. It has become clear that yield concerns have become significant enough to boost prices to date.
The price remains elevated. In the year-to-date, the price is up around 13% since the start of the year, but is currently trading down nearly 20% from April’s highs, which saw the commodity trading above the $8.00 mark. At the time of writing on 28 November 2022, corn was trading at approximately $6.67.
Ukraine supplies still constrained
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put a number of commodities in a state of flux, from Russian oil and natural gas to Ukrainian wheat, pushing the price up to historic highs, increasing concerns of a famine in the developing world.
Corn is another commodity that is exposed to the production and distribution problems caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to indexmundi, the US and China are responsible for more than half the world’s total corn production, with Brazil, the EU and Argentina other big hitters. Ukraine, while relatively modest, is still the eighth largest global producer.
That, however, ignores the fact that the US and China will consume a lot of the corn they produce, unlike Ukraine.
While only accounting for a small share of production, the country accounts for 11% of global exports, adding disproportionate pressure on the rest of the globe. Those exports have been largely wiped out as a result of the closure of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports under the Russian assault.
Only half of the sunflower oil and corn that was being shipped pre-conflict is being exported now, according to JPMorgan.
“We hold concerns for the consistent availability of corn and sunflower oil exports through the peak period of shipments in the second half of this year,” Tracey Allen, agricultural commodities strategist at JPMorgan Research, said in a study.
Ukrainian farmers haven’t been deterred by shelling by the Russian army or threats to the status of exports, planting more corn in response to demand, according to the USDA, although the lifting of limitations has greatly improved trade prospects.
“Ukraine corn production for marketing year 2022/23 is forecast at 30.0 million metric tons, up 20 percent from last month but down 29 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 6.67 tons per hectare, up 20 percent from last month, but down 13 percent from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 4.5 million hectares, unchanged from last month, but down 18 percent from last year,” the USDA reported.
Climate pressures emerge
Another uncontrollable pressure on corn is weather. Good weather saw corn prices partially retreat recently, but it could be short-lived based on the ‘La Niña’ winter engulfing parts of the US.
“Weather is a very material driver here and now,” JPMorgan Research’s Allen said in a research paper. “We’re anticipating some deterioration in crop conditions, building of soil moisture deficiencies and pullback in the yield potential of key grain and oilseed crops – at a time when we have critically tight exportable supplies of agricultural products available to the world market.
“We continue to see further upside price risks for milling wheat amid persistent challenging growing conditions in the US.”
Research from S&P Global showed that dry weather is expected to force US corn contraction down in 2022/23, adding to price pressures.
In the long run, the supply of maize (corn) is expected to decline as a result of climate change, according to a NASA study published in Nature Food, with yields forecast to drop 24% by 2030.
Corn price forecast for 2022 and beyond
JPMorgan’s research suggests that there is a potential 20%-30% upside on the basis of supply-side disappointments.
“When we look at the extent to which prices have collapsed, we are now seeing new crop prices in 2023 track below the cost of production – for corn and for wheat. The market is really in need of a supply response,” said Allen.
In a Barclays research note on food producer Tate and Lyle, shared with Capital.com, analysts noted current difficulties had put upward pressure on corn price predictions.
“We highlighted that Russia and Ukraine combined represent one of the world’s key breadbaskets, accounting for around one-quarter of global exports of wheat and corn,” they said.
According to a corn price forecast and analysis by CRM Agri shared on Feed Navigator, it was expected that the prices would remain elevated through 2022 and 2023.
“Corn markets risk coming under pressure as harvest looms, but this is far from a fully bearish market,” CRM Agri said. “The drought-impacted Brazilian crop is likely to drive additional new crop demand to US markets. The war in Ukraine is supporting old crop demand, while China has continued to purchase US corn, and with every additional sale, US stocks decrease.”
The USDA’s agricultural projections November report stated: “The forecasted corn season-average farm price for 2022/23 – of $6.80 per bushel – is the highest projected since 2012/13.”
Fitch Solutions’ corn price forecast for 2023 anticipated that corn prices will find further support, and so remain above their pre-2022 levels, in a deteriorating outlook for global production in 2022/23: “We have made upward revisions to our average corn price forecasts for both 2022 and 2023: increasing the former by 2.2% to USc690/bushel and the latter by 10.0% to USc660/bushel.
“Adding further bullish impetus to corn prices over the 2022/23 cycle will be reduced trade volumes, a result of reduced global corn production as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the USDA most recently forecasting a decrease in corn exports of 9.7% y-o-y.”
In its corn price forecast for 2025, Fitch stated: “Between 2024 and 2026, we expect the global corn sector to generate consistent, increasing production surpluses, which will serve to weigh on prices, as reflected in our corn price forecasts: of USc600/bushel in 2024, USc550/bushel in 2025 (close to the average corn price in 2021, of USc564/bushel), and USc500/bushel in 2026.”
Note that analyst predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own diligence and remember that your decision to trade or invest should depend on your risk tolerance, expertise in the market, portfolio size and goals.
Keep in mind that past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns, and never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.
FAQs
Is corn a good investment?
The corn price fluctuates on a seasonal basis and in the wake of supply and demand shocks. The prices typically rise when the supply is short, as was the case when Ukraine was invaded by Russia.
Whether corn is a suitable investment for you should depend on your risk tolerance, portfolio size and goals, and your experience in the commodity markets. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing. Keep in mind that past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns, and never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.
Will corn go up?
According to the USDA as of 28 November 2022, the seasonal average price of corn is expected to be $6.65 a bushel, broadly in line with current prices.
Note that analyst predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own due diligence before trading or investing, and never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.
Should I invest in corn?
The appeal of corn is largely based on weather forecasts and the development of the war in Ukraine. Both are uncertain, and would have significant effects on corn’s final price.
Whether corn is a suitable investment for you should depend on your risk tolerance, portfolio size and goals, and your experience in the commodity markets. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing.
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