Wheat prices hit new low after crop estimates rise

Wheat futures prices for November 2014 hit new lows today (13 June) following the US Department of Agriculture adding almost 5m tonnes to its estimate for the world wheat crop.

By 3pm on Monday (9 June), London’s November feed wheat contract was at £137.80/t, having dipped to £137.40/t earlier in the day.

See also: Growers gear up for bumper wheat export season

The USDA forecast put the global wheat crop at 701.6m tonnes, which is 12.4m tonnes down on last year’s record production. Larger crops in the EU, China, India and Russia are expected to offset the impact of the US drought.

The estimate put the EU crop at 146.25m tonnes, its second highest production ever. Adding to the pressure, several European forecasts also commented on the healthy state of most wheat and oilseed rape crops and also raised their 2014 production estimates.