Raw Material Market News and Views

Off course the newest being the Corona Virus breaking out in South Africa leading to the President announcing a nationwide lock-down of the country except for essential services. The later off course having the biggest and greatest effect on Global and South African markets.

Currency (R/$)

Once South Africa had its first confirmed case of the Covid-19virus, we started seeing the sudden weakening of the Rand relative to the USD. We reached the weakest point on Monday 23^rd March before the Presidential announcement that the country will go into a Lock-Down. The market reacted positively towards this news and the rand has strengthened slightly.

The Rand / Dollar exchange has weakened as follows between 1 March and 26 March:

Day Close (1 March) of R15.37 to the $, Moving to a rate (27 March) of R17.46 to the $ = R2.09 movement weaker to the $.

Soya Oilcake

International prices on soya bean has jumped sharply due to dryness and fear of a possible port closure (Timbues) in Argentina.

We have seen local soya meal prices soaring through the roof due to the weakening of the Rand and these international factors.

Soya Bean meal has increased as follow between 1 March and 26 March:

On Replacement R6 350.00 to R7 720.00 per metric ton FCA Durban = R1 370.00 per metric ton movement.

What does this upwards movement mean for feed prices?

• The typical broiler & pork feed diets with an approximate inclusion of 20% translates into an end feed price increase of R274 per ton.
• For layer and broiler breeder feeds with a typical inclusion of around 10%, it means an increase of R137 per ton of feed.
• The ruminates use a little less soya oil cake but if one calculates with an approximate 7% inclusion it also brings an increase of R95 per ton

Please also remember that Soya oil cake is the price setter for the whole protein raw material basket, especially Sunflower oil cake.

Maize

Although we are fortunate with a new bumper harvest this season, we have unfortunately seen an increase in maize prices this past week due to the weaker Rand which caused the export parity of maize to rise. The current CEC estimate is standing on 14.809 Million tons total production, although sentiment in the market is for a higher crop number. Below the official CEC crop information:

The expectation for our local market prices are to keep following Durban port export parity. We are therefore in the hands of mainly the strength and weakness of the Rand.

Yellow Maize has increased as follow between 1 March and 26 March:

On Replacement May SAFEX R2430 to R2705 = R275

On Replacement July SAFEX R2360 to R2677 = R317

What does this upwards movement mean for feed prices?

• The typical poultry and pork diets with an approximate inclusion of 50% translates into an end feed price increase of R150 per ton.
• The ruminates use anything between 25% up to 50% maize which will cause feed prices to increase between R75 up to R150 per ton.

As with Soya, maize is the price setter for the whole grain and grain by-product raw material basket for example chop, wheat bran and gluten prices.

Micro’s and vitamins

These raw materials are also very price sensitive to the exchange rate. There is however a lagging period in pricing, for example, if the current weaker Rand persists, we will see price increases of these raw materials, for example, amino acids toward quarter three of this year.

Although the above price realities are not positive at all, De Heus do have forward positions that are lower than these current market prices. As such we do not have to pass them on into the month of April, but if these prices persist, their impact will reflect in our feed prices in the coming months.