Commodities: DDGS prices steady, domestic demand rising

FILE PHOTO

November 25, 2015

BY Sean Broderick, CHS

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and cold weather still not here in earnest, it seems like DDGS prices have settled into a holding pattern. Prices have been steady for the last couple of weeks, and have only recently started to see more domestic demand. The lack of colder weather has kept seasonal usage for DDGS on the low side, but that is bound to change soon. There are usually situations in which plants either have too much DDGS in storage, or too little, going into the short Thanksgiving week, but this year it looks as though earlier sales will match up with impending supplies.

On the export side, China demand is still the elephant in the room, with the industry waiting to hear whether their Ministry of Commerce will institute an anti-dumping case vs. the U.S. ethanol industry.  Exports there have dropped significantly since September, mostly due to a combination of traders fearful of getting caught in the middle of governmental action, and China’s own extremely large amount of surplus corn in storage. Barge, bulk vessel and container freight rates are all on the low end of their respective spectrums worldwide. Other importers in Asia look closely at their delivered price of corn in comparison with DDGS, and Brazilian and Ukrainian corn is priced well below the delivered price of U.S. DDGS, which has also slowed imports.

Looking ahead, U.S. domestic demand is expected to increase, as is interest from Mexico. Buyers around the world will watch carefully for signs of what China decides to do with its buying as well as what U.S. farmers decides to do with selling.

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LOCATION January 2016 December 2015 January 2015  
Minnesota 110 110 95  
Chicago 140 138 125  
Buffalo, N.Y. 130 140 130  
Central Calif. 178 178 195  
Central Fla. 153 155 160  

 

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