WHEAT: Projected U.S. 2018/19 wheat supplies are raised 74 million bushels on increased beginning stocks and higher production. Forecast 2018/19 U.S. wheat production is raised 54 million bushels to 1,881 million. The NASS July Crop Production report provides survey-based production forecasts for all wheat classes for the first time in the 2018/19 crop year. The production forecast for durum and other spring wheat are up from last years low level due to improved yields and higher spring wheat area.
Winter wheat production is down slightly from the June forecast. Ending stocks for 2018/19 are raised 39 million bushels this month but are 11 percent below last years revised stocks. The 2018/19 season-average farm price is lowered $0.10 per bushel at the midpoint to a projected range of $4.50 to $5.50. Foreign 2018/19 wheat supplies are decreased 9.3 million tons primarily on lower production, which is the smallest in three years. The production declines are led by a 4.4-million-ton reduction for the EU reflecting continued dryness especially in the north. Australia, Russia, and Ukraine are lowered 2.0 million, 1.5 million, and 1.0 million tons, respectively, and also reflect continued dryness. China production is reduced 1.0 million tons on lower harvested area as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture. Global 2018/19 exports are lowered 1.9 million tons on decreased supplies. EU exports are reduced 1.5 million tons and Australia and Russia are both lowered 1.0 million tons. These export reductions are partially offset by a 1.0-million-ton increase for Canada and a 0.7-million-ton increase for the United States. Total foreign consumption for 2018/19 is lowered 2.3 million tons on both lower food and feed and residual use. With global supplies declining more than projected use, world ending stocks are reduced 5.3 million tons to 260.9 million.
This months 2018/19 U.S. corn outlook is for larger supplies, greater feed and residual use, increased exports, and lower ending stocks. Corn beginning stocks are lowered 75 million bushels as higher forecast exports and food, seed, and industrial (FSI) use more than offset lower feed and residual use in 2017/18. Increased 2017/18 exports are based on record-high shipments during the month of May and export inspection data for June. Current outstanding export sales are also record high. FSI use is raised as a projected 25-million-bushel increase in the amount of corn used for ethanol, based on reported use to date, is partially offset by a decline in the amount of corn used for glucose and dextrose. Feed and residual use is lower based on indicated disappearance during the first three quarters of the marketing year in the June 29 Grain Stocks report.
For 2018/19, corn production is forecast 190 million bushels higher based on increased planted and harvested areas from the June 29 Acreage report. The national average corn yield is unchanged at 174.0 bushels per acre. During June, harvested-area weighted precipitation for the major corn producing states was above normal. While silking, as reported in the Crop Progress report, is ahead of the recent historical average, for much of the crop, the critical pollination period will be during middle and late July. Projected feed and residual use for 2018/19 is raised 75 million bushels, mostly reflecting a larger crop and a forecast reduction in the amount of corn used to produce ethanol. FSI use is lowered 60 million bushels based on a 50-million-bushel reduction in the forecast amount of corn used to produce ethanol, and a 10-million-bushel decline in amount of corn used for glucose and dextrose. Exports are raised 125 million bushels based on expectations of reduced competition from Argentina, Brazil, and Russia. Small revisions are made to historical trade and utilization estimates based on the 13th month trade data revisions from the Census Bureau. With use rising more than supply, stocks are lowered 25 million bushels to 1.552 billion. The season-average corn price received by producers is lowered 10 cents at the midpoint for a range of $3.30 to $4.30 per bushel.
Oat production is virtually unchanged and barley production is up 8 million bushels reflecting area adjustments in the Acreage report and higher barley and lower oat yields in todays Crop Production report. Sorghum production is raised based on the higher area reported in the Acreage report.
This months 2018/19 foreign coarse grain outlook is for lower production, trade, and stocks relative to last month. Russia corn production is lowered, reflecting reductions to both area and yield. Extreme heat and dryness in the Southern and North Caucasus districts during the month of June is expected to reduce yield prospects. Corn production is raised for the EU, but lowered for Canada. Barley production is reduced for Russia, Australia, and the EU, but raised for Canada. For 2017/18, Brazil corn production is reduced based on the latest government statistics. Major global trade changes for 2018/19 include lower corn exports for Russia, more than offset by increased exports for the United States. Corn imports are raised for South Korea and Saudi Arabia, but lowered for Japan and Mexico. Sorghum imports are lowered for China, but partially offset by increases for Mexico and Japan. For 2017/18, corn exports are lowered for Argentina and Brazil. Foreign corn ending stocks are lowered from last month, with the largest declines for China, the EU, and Mexico.
This months U.S. soybean supply and use projections for 2018/19 include lower supplies, lower exports, higher crush, and higher ending stocks. Beginning stocks are reduced on increased exports and crush for 2017/18. Soybean production for 2018/19 is projected at 4.310 billion bushels, up 30 million on increased harvested area. Harvested area, forecast at 88.9 million acres in the Acreage report, is up 0.7 million from last month. The soybean yield forecast is unchanged at 48.5 bushels per acre. Soybean crush for 2018/19 is raised 45 million bushels to 2.045 billion reflecting an increase in projected soybean meal domestic disappearance and exports. Domestic soybean meal disappearance is raised on lower soybean meal prices and increased livestock production. Soybean and product trade changes reflect the impact of Chinas recently imposed soybean import duties in addition to other global oilseed supply and demand changes this month. U.S. soybean meal exports are raised to offset reduced meal exports from South America where higher soybean exports displace crush. Soybean exports are reduced 250 million bushels to 2.040 billion reflecting the impact of Chinas import duties. Despite losing market share in China, soybean exports are supported in other markets as lower U.S. prices increase demand and market share. Soybean ending stocks for 2018/19 are projected at 580 million bushels, up 195 million from last month.The U.S. season-average soybean price is forecast at $8.00 to $10.50 per bushel, down $0.75 at the midpoint. Soybean meal prices are forecast at $315 to $355 per short ton, down $15.00 at the midpoint. The soybean oil price forecast at 28 to 32 cents per pound, down 1.5 cents at the midpoint.
The 2018/19 global soybean supply and demand forecasts include higher production and lower trade and crush compared to last month. The tariff that China recently imposed on U.S. soybeans is expected to cause higher prices for soybeans in China and slower protein meal consumption growth. Lower demand and a year-over-year draw down in stocks for China are forecast to result in reduced crush and an 8-million-ton decline for imports to 95 million. Parallel to this change is a 6.8-million-ton decline for U.S. exports that is partly offset by a 2.1-million-ton increase for Brazil. Planted area for Brazil for 2018/19 is expected to expand with higher prices resulting from increased trade with China, leading to a 2.5-million-ton increase in production to 120.5 million. With lower soybean crush and reduced soybean oil production, China is expected to increase imports of other vegetable oils, including soybean, palm, and rapeseed.Total global 2018/19 oil seed production is down 1.4 million tons to 592.6 million with a 4.3-million-ton increase for soybean production offset by lower rapeseed and sunflower. Rapeseed production is reduced 2.6 million tons with lower production for the EU, Australia, Ukraine, and Russia. In the EU, rapeseed production is lowered for Germany and the UK on persistent dryness while production is lowered for France on pest pressure. Sunflower seed production is down 2.9 million tons mainly for Russia and Ukraine on lower yields from dry conditions.