What's supported rapeseed prices recently? Grain Market Daily

• Old crop UK feed wheat futures (May-20) have strengthened this week, ending yesterday at £156.25/t as sterling continues to weaken. New crop futures (Nov-20) have also followed this trend, increasing £1.65/t from Friday, to close at £164.55/t yesterday.
• Egypt’s state grain purchaser (GASC) has opened a tender to purchase an unspecified volume of wheat for March shipment. The most recent GASC international wheat tender on 8 Jan saw 300Kt of wheat purchased for February shipment. Results are expected to be published later this afternoon, with Russia currently the cheapest FOB offer at $235.30/t.

Taking a look at the vegetable oil markets can be an important guide for the direction of rapeseed prices going forward. UK rapeseed (delivered, Erith, Feb) was quoted at £359.00/t on Friday, an £8.00/t increase on the previous quote (20 Dec).. Now that Ukraine’s front-loaded export schedule has reached completion, the rapeseed supply picture going forward seems increasingly tight.

Despite falls early this week, support for rapeseed prices on the back of firm oil markets is likely to remain.

Rapeseed oil in particular, has strengthened recently, seeing support from an increase in palm oil prices pushing up the bottom end of the vegetable oil market. Nearby Paris rapeseed futures increased €32.50/t from early December to yesterday’s close, following gains in wider oil markets.

Global palm oil prices have seen large rises throughout the second half of this year, monthly average prices are up 51% from July-19. Nine-year low production figures for December combined with high export figures has resulted in Malaysian end-Dec palm oil stocks reaching a 27 month low. Much of this price rise has supported vegetable oil markets recently.

Throughout December, nearby soyabean oil prices saw rises, ending the month $99.87/t higher from 2 December. Support came from raised palm oil prices and a weakening US dollar against the Euro, coupled with an agreement in the US – China trade dispute enabled soyabean oil prices to increase.

Reductions to crude oil production estimates (OPEC) had offered support to rapeseed markets recently as crude oil prices saw rises throughout December. However, as crude oil prices start to withdraw from highs caused by US – Iran political issues at the start of this month, this contributing support could start to fall away.

With tightness in EU rapeseed this season, imports of biodiesel could well rise, with Argentina a likely source. The main Argentinian oilseed crusher has temporarily paused production owing to financial difficulties. This could also support EU rapeseed prices in the short term.

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