Peanuts: unease over supply and demand
May 23, 2022 at 11:24 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Traders express unease
Traders are expressing unease at the current market situation in India. Although the market has been spared another hike in prices in the last three weeks, the overall trend is highly alarming. Prices have steadily risen in India in recent years and fear is that worse is in store as the situation is far from encouraging in the international market. Peanut consumption ranges so high in India that the country has to rely on imports, despite being a leading producer itself. Shipping costs have surged since Covid took hold and container availability by no means matches demand.
India’s importers are mainly concerned over conditions in Brazil, where dry conditions have reduced yields and aflatoxin contamination has limited exports this year. Prospects are also not exactly encouraging in the USA. Problem is that the farmers did not obtain the profits they had anticipated, which has impacted sowing and will cut production. Inflation has, in addition, hit the market in Argentina and spoiled exports here as operational costs are simply too high. The shocking stagnancy in demand in Europe is also highly discouraging as inflation is expected to reduce consumer spending on non-essential goods. These shifts in supply and demand will add to the high degree of uncertainty, which is already giving traders headaches.
Global production to range higher
Prospects are, however, less bleak in terms of production. In the recently updated peanut production estimates for 2022/2023 the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) even anticipates a nominal 1.2% rise in global production. While China is expected to maintain its position as leading producer, India, Nigeria and Sudan and Burma will also step up production. This will compensate for declines in other countries such as the USA and Argentina. Guinea will witness the sharpest decline in production. The estimates for Brazil are highly optimistic as production is expected to rise from 718,000 mt in 2021/2022 to 750,000 mt in 2022/2023.
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Peanut production, inshell, in 1,000 mt |
|||
|
Country |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
Diff. |
|
China |
18,200 |
18,300 |
0.5% |
|
India |
6,800 |
7,000 |
2.9% |
|
Nigeria |
4,228 |
4,500 |
6.4% |
|
USA |
2,898 |
2,840 |
-2.1% |
|
Sudan |
2,355 |
2,500 |
6.1% |
|
Senegal |
1,678 |
1,700 |
1.3% |
|
Burma |
1,600 |
1,650 |
3.1% |
|
Argentina |
1,300 |
1,250 |
-3.9% |
|
Guinea |
1,335 |
1,200 |
-10.2% |
|
Tanzania |
1,100 |
1,100 |
0% |
|
Others |
8,793 |
8,874 |
0.9% |
|
Total |
50,287 |
50,914 |
1.2% |
|
IPAD FAS, May 2022 |
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Nominally lower prices
Weekly arrivals presently range at 4,255 mt in India. Prices have recently taken a minor dip and range on a similar level as at the end of April. The prices for bold peanuts with skin presently range at USD 1,350/mt FOB India.
|
Peanuts, with skin |
|
|
Type |
USD/mt |
|
Bold, 40-50 |
1,350 |
|
Bold, 50-60 |
1,315 |
|
Bold, 60-70 |
1,295 |
|
Java, 50-60 |
1,490 |
|
Java, 60-70 |
1,420 |
|
Java, 70-80 |
1,410 |
|
FOB India, non-EU quality |
|
View more
- price chart, peanuts, with skin, 40/50, Bold, India
- price chart peanuts, with skin, 50/60, Java, India
- price charts for nuts, dried fruit, oilseeds and many more products
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