Soybean Shortage Boosts Prices
Prospects for a sharp decline in U.S. soybean stocks by the end of the 2007-08 marketing year suggest that an increase in U.S. soybean production, and therefore acreage, will be required in 2008, according to University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrel Good.
That perceived need has provided underlying support to soybean prices. Some analysts have already projected a large increase in U.S. soybean acreage in 2008. However, forecasts of the acreage response in the United States before the outcome of the 2008 South American crop is clearer cannot be very accurate.
While some production decisions have already been made, producers clearly demonstrated the ability for late-season acreage flexibility in 2007 when planted acreage of soybeans was nearly 3.5 million less than intentions reported in March. There does appear to be a bit of a knee-jerk reaction by producers to plan for more soybean acreage in 2008 with November 2008 futures above $9.50. However, December corn futures at $4.25 suggest that corn is still potentially more profitable than soybeans in much of the Midwest.
Soybean prices moved to the highest level for the current marketing year on the last day of October. November 2007 futures traded to $10.185. November futures have reached a high over $10 only once before, when the 1988 contract traded to a high of $10.46.
The 60-cent rally in soybean futures over the past three weeks has been led by soybean oil prices, he noted. After dipping to about 38 cents in early October, December soybean oil futures moved above 42 cents in early November. December soybean meal futures have been trading between $270 and $280 per ton.
The recent strength in soybean oil prices has been associated with large export sales and rising crude oil prices. For the current marketing year which started on Oct. 1, the USDA has forecast a 24 percent decline in U.S. soybean oil exports, to a total of 1.45 billion pounds. As of Oct. 25, U.S. export commitments were reported at 304 million pounds, 22 percent larger than commitments of a year earlier.
Higher crude oil prices have supported soybean oil prices due to the expected increase in biodiesel production stimulated by high fuel prices. The Census Bureau has been reporting the amount of fats and oils used in biodiesel production only since January 2006. For the first year, only once-refined soybean oil used in biodiesel production was reported.
Since January 2007, both refined and crude soybean oil have been reported, as well as the amount of all fats and oils used in biodiesel production. It appears that the use of fats and oils for biodiesel production peaks in August.
In August 2007, 376.2 million pounds of soybean oil were sued for bio-diesel production, accounting for 20.6 percent of the monthly use of U.S. soybean oil. That use declined by nearly 26 percent in September, compared to a 16 percent drop in September 2006. High soybean oil prices are keeping biodiesel production margins thin even with higher fuel prices.
Relatively strong export sales of U.S. soybeans have also provided some support for soybean prices. For the year, the USDA projects a 13 percent decline in U.S. soybean exports. Export inspections during the first nine weeks of the marketing year were about 23 percent less than the total of a year ago.
However, unshipped sales as of Oct. 25 were about 3 percent larger than sales of a year ago so that total commitments are only about 9 percent behind those of a year ago. A strong export sales pace, combined with a 3.6 percent year-over-year increase in the domestic crush in September, suggest that soybean demand remains very strong.
Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
