Where is the Selling? Grains Hold Together Despite Trade War Escalation
Where is the Selling? Grains Hold Together Despite Trade War Escalation  
Podcast: Grain Markets and Other Stuff
Published On: Wed Apr 09 2025
Description: Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links-Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.0:00 104% Tariff Takes Effect2:55 Stocks and Crude Fall5:17 Corn Futures Rise8:07 Biofuel News9:08 AGCO10:05 Russia Wheat Damage11:07 Corn FlashTrump Administration's 104% Tariff on Chinese Goods Takes Effect The Trump administration’s 104% tariff on Chinese goods officially went into effect early this morning, escalating trade tensions. China has rejected the move as "blackmail," making a near-term resolution unlikely. Meanwhile, the U.S. also implemented reciprocal tariffs on about 60 countries. Equities and Oil Prices See Sharp Declines The U.S. stock market experienced a major drop on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all retreating sharply. The S&P 500 entered "bear market" territory, having fallen more than 19% from its all-time highs. WTI crude oil also fell nearly 2%, reaching its lowest level since April 2021.Corn Futures Rise on Weather Concerns U.S. corn futures saw a 4-cent increase on Tuesday, reaching $4.69 per bushel. The rally was driven by expectations surrounding Thursday’s USDA report and concerns about planting delays due to historic rainfall in the Midwest and southern U.S. Analysts expect U.S. corn ending stocks to decline by 2% from March estimates. The USDA's Crop Production and WASDE reports are due Thursday at 11 a.m. CST. US Oil & Biofuel Groups Push for Higher Biomass Diesel Mandates U.S. oil and biofuel groups are advocating for an increase in biomass diesel mandates, proposing a 5.25 billion gallon mandate for 2026. While the suggestion falls short of previous proposals for 5.5-5.75 billion gallons, it highlights the sector’s desire for a more robust advanced biofuel market. AGCO Suspends Some Agricultural Equipment Shipments AGCO, known for brands like Massey Ferguson and Hesston, has announced it will suspend certain agricultural equipment shipments into the U.S. due to the impact of tariffs. Although the company will continue importing parts, this move reflects the growing concern over the toll that tariffs are taking on agricultural machinery sales. Russia’s Wheat Crop Faces Extreme Weather Threats Russia’s wheat crop is under threat from extreme weather, including a hailstorm in Stavropol, a major wheat-producing region, and recent snowstorms with sub-zero temperatures. Despite these challenges, the Russian agriculture ministry claims that crop losses are under 3%, and the overall situation remains stable. However, authorities have warned that they may implement export restrictions if crop production falls short of expectations. Flash Sale of U.S. Corn U.S. exporters sold 240,000mt (9 million bushels) of corn to Spain for the 2024/2025 marketing year, according to USDA. This sale highlights the competitiveness of U.S. corn in the global market.