New! GFMT Article: Global commodities with John Buckley

It's time to look at the world commodities markets with our resident expert John Buckley.  Click on the image to read the article.

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Cargill remains a private company

Cargill Inc. begins the new fiscal year in a good position after they sold the majority stake in Mosaic Co. Cargill chief finance officer said the company was in good shape with plenty of options as a diverse company.

"The company, whose diverse businesses range from grain merchandising to meat processing to energy trading, invested more than US$3 billion (€2.127 billion) in acquisitions and expansions in the fiscal year ended May 31". Chief financial officer Sergio Rial said. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

BPEX: Managing raw material costs

Feed cost is by far the most important factor in pig cost of production and in the volatile global commodity market it is important businesses take steps to minimise those risks. To help achieve this, BPEX has just launched a new section on its website giving real-time comparison of commercial options versus nearby future prices.

Wheat prices may have fallen back a touch but are still almost double what they were a year ago and producers need every tool available to help them through these troubled times. This web area aims to provide pig producers with an introduction to managing raw material costs using futures and options, an explanation of how these tools work, real-time examples of them in action as well as a guide to all the different parts of commodity trading screens now accessible to the public via the internet. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.

European Union wants market-based answer to commodities surge

Commodity prices have surged largely due to supply and demand bottlenecks and the European Union's response should be "considered and market-based" rather than rely on mandatory curbs, governments are set to agree.

Some EU countries such as France want curbs on what they see as speculators such as hedge funds making quick gains in commodities markets at the expense of consumers.

The tone of the statement, due to be endorsed by the bloc's industry ministers on Thursday (10 March), is cautious on blaming the financial sector, however, and does not call for any radical measures such as the position limits that are being introduced in the United States. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.