📜 Wheat Markets Sink to Contract Lows – Pressure from U.S. Weather and Sluggish Demand 📜

Wheat prices continued to decline on Friday, with U.S. futures reaching new contract lows amid favourable weather and weak global demand. Despite a minor rebound in Paris for harvest positions, the market remains under pressure from abundant global supply and lacklustre export interest.

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📊 1. Market Overview: Exchange Prices & Trends

📌 Prices dropped to multi-year lows across both exchanges.

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🌍 2. Key Market Drivers & Influencing Factors

🔹 📉 Weather Improves in Key Regions

• 🌧️ U.S. southern Plains see improved rainfall
• 🌧️ Showers are also reported in southern Russia and the Black Sea
• ☀️ Northern China remains hot and dry, which is supporting global prices slightly

📌 Weather conditions remain the dominant factor pressuring futures.

🔹 🇨🇳 China Purchases Wheat Amid Domestic Heat Stress

• Estimated purchases: 400,000–500,000 t from Australia and Canada
• Henan province, a major wheat region, is experiencing drought and heat

📌 China may dip into reserves or increase imports if crop losses mount.

🔹 🇺🇸 U.S. Crop Outlook Improves

• Winter wheat in "good/excellent" condition: 51%
• Drought area down to 23% (from 33% the week before)

📌 Better conditions further pressure Chicago prices.

🔹 🇪🇺 EU Market Under Pressure

• 🇪🇺 Euronext wheat near contract lows
• Domestic demand is present, but export flows remain subdued
• Inland rerouting of port wheat to meet domestic needs in Germany
• Older contracts are still being fulfilled for Morocco, Angola, and Cameroon

📌 Weaker euro provided brief support; otherwise, sentiment remains bearish.

🔹 💼 Speculative Pressure from Funds

📊 CFTC (May 6):

• CBOT wheat net shorts reduced by 7,681 contracts to 113,734
• KC wheat net shorts expanded to a record: 72,240 contracts (+4,971)

📌 Hedge funds remain net short, but profit-taking triggered partial covering.

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🔮 3. Price Forecast (May 13–15, 2025)

📌 The short-term bias remains bearish unless crop stress emerges or China accelerates buying.

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⛅ 4. 14-Day Weather Outlook – Key Growing Regions

🇺🇸 USA – Southern Plains

📍 Current: Well-timed rainfall, favourable temps📆 Outlook:

• 🌧️ More precipitation expected
• 🌡️ Mild, stable growing conditions

🇨🇳 China – Northern Wheat Belt

📍 Current: Hot and dry in Henan and neighbouring provinces📆 Outlook (May 11–18):

• 🌡️ Temps above 35°C
• 🌧️ Very limited rainfall

🇪🇺 Europe – Central & Northern Regions

📍 Current: Light rain in west; dry in northeast📆 Outlook:

• 🌧️ Mostly dry in Germany, Denmark, Poland, and the Czech Republic
• 🌡️ Mild, with warmth expected late May

📌 Risk of crop stress rising in parts of Europe if dryness persists.

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📉 5. Market Data Highlights

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📌 6. Conclusion & Strategic Recommendations

📍 Key Takeaways:✅ Improved crop prospects in the U.S. and Black Sea pressured prices✅ China’s weather problems offer only marginal support✅ Euronext remains near multi-year lows amid poor export performance✅ Fund behaviour continues to shape short-term price action

📌 Recommendations:🔹 Producers: Be cautious with forward selling; use rebounds to hedge🔹 Buyers: Monitor the Black Sea and the EU for discount opportunities🔹 Traders: Watch USDA’s first 2025/26 WASDE (out today) for fresh direction

📍 Volatility may increase if Chinese crop concerns escalate or USDA surprises with stock or acreage shifts.