Play Turner’s Take Ag Marketing Podcast Episode 288
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This week we take a look at inflation and why we are seeing substantial price increases for many goods and services.  We also talk about Fed policy, high energy and ag prices, and they supply chain issues in the US and globally.  Make sure you take a listen to the latest Turner’s Take Podcast!
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Macro Markets
Inflation in the US and global economy is has been a major theme of the macro markets lately. The Fed is open to tapering asset backed purchases but they don’t want to start raising interest rates until 2022.  Money is flowing into commodities and crypto.  Supply chain issues are keeping products from reaching the shelves and increasing prices at the same time.
The Fed has recognized inflation is a real issue.  Tapering asset backed purchases will be the first step in fighting inflation.  Interests rate hikes in 2022 will be the second step.  Solving supply chain issues will allow more supply of goods into the market and keep prices from rising due to low inventory.  Analysts don’t see energy supply catching up with the demand until the spring so expect elevated energy prices to last until March.  Ag prices will also stay elevated until we can get a large crop out of S America and the US next summer (see Food Price Index chart below).
Some of the inflation we are seeing has to do with US monetary policy.  Some of the inflation is transitory but supply will eventually catch up to demand for energy and ag.  The rest is due to government policy and regulations.  The good news is a lot of these issues eventually work themselves out but it will take some time.

Energy
Crude oil can run to $95 if OPEC does not increase supplies.  OPEC can change the market at anytime by increasing production.  Right now they don’t have as much competition from US Shale producers as they did seven years ago.  The US “drilled but uncompleted wells” are at 2017 levels.  $85 crude oil is profitable for US Shale companies but you can’t turn on new production overnight.  It is hard to see OPEC increase supply until they feel the threat of a non-OPEC nation coming in and taking market share.
Natural gas rallied today too.  NG is trading in a range of $5 to $6.50.  I don’t think we can break higher without colder temperatures.  Keep in mind in the years we had tight NG stocks the market traded between $6 support and a record high $14.  The majority of the time NG traded between $8 and $11. We have not seen those types of prices in years but 10 to 15 years ago it was a common occurrence.
Natural gas is still my favorite energy play heading into the winter.  The trick is to find limited risk trades that don’t cost an arm and a leg in premium.
Finally, even coal is making a comeback. China is trying to source as much energy as possible as we head into the winter and they are turning to coal to hopefully make up the deficit.  China committed to cleaner energy for the past 4 or 5 years.  To see them switch back to increasing coal production is a strong sign of energy shortages in Asia this winter.

Grains & Oilseeds
Global vegetable oils remains to be tight, canola and palm oil are soaring, and that is still supportive of soybean oil (see char below).