Traders and investors are bracing for a spike in food prices - we explore the three agricultural elements to watch

Traders and investors are bracing for a spike in food prices - we explore the three agricultural elements to watch

Jessica Amir
Market Strategist

Summary:  WATCH our three-minute video. Wheat prices are rising in anticipation of some traders and investors expecting higher food prices, with Russia exiting the Ukraine gain deal and threatening to cut off Ukraine’s wheat supply from the world. We explore the three elements to watch, from commodities, stocks to ETFs. Including the US' biggest wheat producer, General Mills, Australia's biggest grain seller, GrainCorp, as well as why fertilizer stocks and poultry companies including Tyson Foods perhaps could be of interest.

Wheat prices (ZWZ2) rose 5.7% in anticipation of traders expecting food prices to pick up, after Russia exited the Ukraine gain deal and threatened to cut off Ukraine’s wheat supply from the world.

What do you need to know? Typically, the globe relies on the Black Sea region for a quarter of annual wheat and barley exports, a fifth of global corn and the bulk of its sunflower oil. So, Russia’s termination of the Black Sea deal means farmers could face a possible lack of storage space with wheat and corn nowhere to go, plus fertilizers, which farmers rely on to grow crops could be cut off, meaning the fertilizer market will also likely once again focus on supply concerns. Here are the three agricultural elements to perhaps watching; 

Firstly - We will be watching Wheat and corn prices, as well as watching agricultural companies including General Mill (GIS), GrainCorp (GNC), Elders (ELD), as well as Fertilizers companies including CF industries (CF), Archer Daniels (AMD), who on sell such commodities and may be expected to sell goods at premium given supply could perhaps be cut short.

Secondly - We will also be watching ETFs like – Invesco DB Agricultural Fund (DBA), iShares MSCI Global Producers ETF (VEGI) and Betashares Global Agricultural Companies ETF (FOOD).

Thirdly - we will also be watching the flow on effects of the rising cost of wheat. It not only makes bread more expensive, but also the cost of chicken will likely rise, given Wheat is the biggest cost growing a chicken (75% of its costs). So if wheat prices continue to rise, farmers and sellers will likely be forced to hike their prices. So, it could be worth watching companies like Tyson Foods (TSN) who is one of the largest processors and sellers of chicken, mutton and beef in the US. In Australia there is Inghams (ING), who focused on producing and selling of poultry. Both Tyson Foods and Inghams shares are 8% up off their October low

Note, this is a developing story. We will cover the latest developments here. Or please follow our head of commodity strategy, Ole Hansen.  

For a global look at markets – tune into our Podcast.



 

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Upending the global order at blinding speed

    Quarterly Outlook

    Upending the global order at blinding speed

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    We are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime shredding of the global order. As the new order takes shape, ...
  • Equity outlook: The high cost of global fragmentation for US portfolios

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity outlook: The high cost of global fragmentation for US portfolios

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Asset allocation outlook: From Magnificent 7 to Magnificent 2,645—diversification matters, now more than ever

    Quarterly Outlook

    Asset allocation outlook: From Magnificent 7 to Magnificent 2,645—diversification matters, now more than ever

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

  • Commodity Outlook: Commodities rally despite global uncertainty

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Commodities rally despite global uncertainty

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Quarterly Outlook

    China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

The information on or via the website is provided to you by Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. (“Saxo Bank”) for educational and information purposes only. The information should not be construed as an offer or recommendation to enter into any transaction or any particular service, nor should the contents be construed as advice of any other kind, for example of a tax or legal nature.

All trading carries risk. Loses can exceed deposits on margin products. You should consider whether you understand how our products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Saxo Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided and shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions or for any losses or damages resulting from the use of such information.

The content of this website represents marketing material and is not the result of financial analysis or research. It has therefore has not been prepared in accordance with directives designed to promote the independence of financial/investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of financial/investment research.

Saxo Bank (Schweiz) AG
The Circle 38
CH-8058
Zürich-Flughafen
Switzerland

Contact Saxo

Select region

Switzerland
Switzerland

All trading carries risk. Losses can exceed deposits on margin products. You should consider whether you understand how our products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a general Risk Warning series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. The KIDs can be accessed within the trading platform. Please note that the full prospectus can be obtained free of charge from Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or the issuer.

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and thus governed by Swiss Law. 

The content of this website represents marketing material and has not been notified or submitted to any supervisory authority.

If you contact Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or visit this website, you acknowledge and agree that any data that you transmit to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., either through this website, by telephone or by any other means of communication (e.g. e-mail), may be collected or recorded and transferred to other Saxo Bank Group companies or third parties in Switzerland or abroad and may be stored or otherwise processed by them or Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. You release Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. from its obligations under Swiss banking and securities dealer secrecies and, to the extent permitted by law, data protection laws as well as other laws and obligations to protect privacy. Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. has implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data from unauthorized processing and disclosure and applies appropriate safeguards to guarantee adequate protection of such data.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.