The latest AWI report examines China and explains the spectacular growth in wealth across its burgeoning middle class, and how this relates to wool demand. It also examines the current prices offered into the future, to understand the rapid acceleration of wool consumption within mainland China.

Port Elizabeth – The wool market traded lower at this week’s auction and the Cape Wools Merino Indicator decreased by 5.6% and by 1,362 points to close at a value of R229,28/kg (Clean). The Australian EMI lost 2,8% this week. The Cape Wools All Wool Indicator declined 5,6%.

It may seem like a drop in the ocean but opting for wool products can have a positive impact on the planet.

Maize: The international corn market traded negatively week-on-week with US yellow corn trading 2.4% lower. The premium for Kansas white
corn is 19.3% down week-on-week. Domestic maize prices traded negatively this week with yellow maize down 2.3% and white maize down
1.3%. In their third production forecast the Crop Estimates Committee estimates that the total maize crop will be 10,655 million tons; this is
0.9% more than estimated in their second forecast.
Wheat: The US wheat prices are at contract lows this week with soft red down 2.8% and hard red down 3.1% week-on-week. The US Spring
plantings are currently 5% completed; the norm for this time of year is approximately 21%. Local wheat prices traded marginally positive with a
0.4% week-on-week increase. Accourding to the Crop Estimates Committee, farmers intend to plant 513 450ha of wheat for the 2019 season
which is 2% more than the 2018 crop.
Soybeans: The US soya market traded negatively week-on-week with prices of soybeans down 1.9%, soya oil down 2.6% and soya meal
down 1.2%. Domestic soybean prices traded 0.3% down week-on-week. The crushing margin after tax is 17.8% higher week-on-week
however, is 60.8% lower than the crushing margin of R1186.15/ton received last year.
Fibre: Wool seasonal trends indicate a slight increase in prices June before declining again in July; while Australian prices are expected to
follow this trend, an increase in South African wool prices would be unlikely considering the pressure currently on the market. Current cotton
prices are 10% higher than prices experienced a year ago.

The international corn market traded negatively week-on-week with US yellow corn trading 2.4% lower. The premium for Kansas white corn is 19.3% down week-on-week however has increased by 179% from last year's premium of US$1.77/ton. Hope regarding the US/China trade deal is turning into disappointment as there is no conclusion in sight. The Brazil crop is large and the Safrinha corn has been rated as 89% good quality with 11% average. Due to the wet ground conditions delaying plantings there is concern that US farmers may switch from corn to soya.

Domestic maize prices traded negatively this week with yellow maize down 2.3% and white maize down 1.3%. However, prices for both yellow and white maize are higher than prices a year ago with yellow maize 25.4% higher and white maize 16.9% higher. In their third production forecast the Crop Estimates Committee estimates that the total maize crop will be 10,655 million tons; this is 0.9% more than estimated in their second forecast. Of the total crop, it is estimated that 49.61% will be white maize while 50.39% will be yellow maize. The expected average yield of maize if 4.63t/ha.

Domestic prices of both yellow and white maize are expected to continue their decline in the next month (May) and then begin to increase from June. However, white maize prices are expected to continue declining at a faster rate than the yellow maize prices. The local market can't expect support from international prices in the coming month as US prices are expected to remain under pressure.

The US wheat prices are at contract lows this week with soft red down 2.8% and hard red down 3.1% week-on-week. The US Spring plantings are currently 5% completed; the norm for this time of year is approximately 21%, the wet weather conditions have delayed plantings. The market was hoping that the low prices would bring in new buyers however this has not been the case. There is a large Russian wheat crop coming in which is expected to further impact US wheat prices negatively.

Local wheat prices traded marginally positive with a 0.4% week-on-week increase. Accourding to the Crop Estimates Committee, farmers intend to plant 513 450ha of wheat for the 2019 season which is 2% more than the 2018 crop. Week-on-week old season wheat (May19) traded up 1.1% while new season wheat (Dec19) traded 0.4% up. The new wheat tariff is still yet to be published, the new tariff of R675.07/ton triggered over a month ago on the 12th of March.

The outlook for US wheat is relatively bleak with prices expected to reach near term lows, global wheat stocks are large with China's wheat stocks at a record high. Domestic wheat prices are expected to continue their slow but steady increase in the next three months. The new wheat tariff of R675.07/ton is expected to be published in May.

The US soya market traded negatively week-on-week with prices of soybeans down 1.9%, soya oil down 2.6% and soya meal down 1.2%. US prices are at a new low since September 2018 this is due to a lack of exports, no conclusion to the US/China trade deal in sight and a large South American crop. The Brazil harvest is 92% complete while the Argentine harvest is 34% complete. The world production of soybeans has been revised with an increase of 4.4 million tons. Chinese imports and crushing of soybeans will be lower than expected due to declining demand for feed in the swine industry following the African Swine Fever outbreak reducing their pig herd.

Domestic soybean prices traded 0.3% down week-on-week while the sunflower seed prices traded up by 0.4%. Prices of both soybeans and
sunflowers are higher compared to this time a year ago. The crushing margin after tax is 17.8% higher week-on-week however, is 60.8% lower than the crushing margin of R1186.15/ton received last year. The third production forecast released by the Crop Estimate Committee showed that the expected production of soybeans will be 1.3 million tons (1.55% more than the estimate from the second production forecast), the expected yield is 1.77t/ha.

The international soya market is currently at a new low since September 2018, it is expected that prices will continue their decline as the large South American crop puts pressure on the US market as they await news on the US/China trade negotiations. Domestic soybean prices are expected to continue their slow decline until June when they will start to increase again. Domestic sunflower seed prices are expected to follow a similar outlook.

Australia: There was no Australian wool auction for the week ended 26 April 2019. The next auction will be held in the week beginning 29th April 2019. South African wool prices are expected to continue their downward spiral with shorter cuts experiencing the largest impact on prices. Although there are talks to reopen the South African wool export market this is unlikely to happen in the short term. Seasonal trends indicate a slight increase in prices June before declining again in July; while Australian prices are expected to follow this trend, an increase in South African wool prices would be unlikely considering the pressure currently on the market. A slight bump in prices of long good quality wool may occur but shorter wools will continue to experience declining prices.
Local: There was no South African auction this week. The next auction is scheduled for the 9th of May 2019.
USA: The US cotton market traded negatively this week; the Cotton A Index was 2% lower week-on-week and is 4.6% lower than last year. Wet
weather and low temperatures across parts of the US slowed fieldwork and planting activity. Spot trading was inactive with moderate demand and an offering of 8,277 bales which is almost 70% less than the 27,298 bales offered last week.
Local: Domestic cotton prices experienced a marginal increase of 0.6% week-on-week. Current prices are 10% higher than prices experienced a year ago. Farmers in the Indore region of India are intending to increase their cotton planting by 15% following increased demand; this may support local prices in the coming months. Domestic prices are expected to remain fairly stable in the coming months.

The suspension of South Africa’s wool imports by the Chinese authorities because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year is a key concern. Wool is an important commodity in the South African agricultural sector, ranked the sixth largest exportable commodity after oranges, grapes, wine and apples in 2018. In the same year, wool accounted for 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports of US$10.6 billion.

One of our less discussed and yet more important commodities is wool. But it has now surfaced as a key concern following the suspension of South Africa’s greasy wool imports by the Chinese authorities due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year.

One of the less discussed, yet an important agricultural commodity is wool. But it has now surfaced as a key concern following the suspension of South Africa’s all greasy wool imports by the Chinese authorities because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year.

Ooskaap NWKV voorsitter, HB van der Walt het tydens hul jaarvergadering laasweek verslag gedoen oor aktiwiteite die afgelope jaar.

Local wool producers are urged to consult with their brokers on any marketing conditions because it is evident that trade with China will not be resuming in the near future.

It has been nearly two months since the Chinese authorities temporarily suspended South African wool imports because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year.

Maize: Local maize prices moved slightly this week with white maize prices increasing by 0.4% and yellow maize prices decreasing by 0.2%.

South Africans are the world’s worst-off citizens. For many in South Africa, there is no doubt that we are the poorest of the poor – striking teachers state as a fact on the evening news that they are the most impoverished workers in the country.

The South Africa-China wool trade story is back in the headlines, but this time around in a good way. Nearly two months since the Chinese authorities temporarily suspended wool imports from South Africa because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year, the country’s authorities issued a notification on May 8 stating that the ban will be lifted that same day.

The US yellow corn price declined by 3.6% week-on-week, this is a 17.3% decline in price compared to a year ago. The USDA crop progress report
shows that only 30% of the corn crop has been planted to date; this is in comparison to last year when 59% of the corn crop had been planted by this time.

The US corn market pulled back this week with the price for US yellow corn dropping by 3% week-on-week, although the current price is 9% higher compared to prices a year ago.

South Africa’s wool industry is on tenterhooks as exporters seek clarity on a Chinese ban on imports of the fiber following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease earlier this year in the world’s second-biggest producer.

Despite the constrained supply, beef prices over the first half of 2019 have traded 10% lower than the comparable period in 2018, according to the BFAP Baseline Agricultural Outlook for the period 2019 to 2028.

This has not been a good year for the global wool industry. The world’s top two wool-producing countries – Australia and South Africa — are experiencing different, yet growth-constraining, challenges.

Die NWKV ondersteun volhoubare produksiestandaarde, soos onderskryf in die kodes van beste praktyke van toepassing op die Suid Afrikaanse Wolbedryf.