A short but tough week for canola

There wasn’t much to prop up canola values on ICE futures over the shortened week of May 23. As of May 25, the two most actively traded contracts, old-crop July and new-crop November, fell back by $11.20 and $14.40 per tonne respectively. That’s despite the former poking its head above the psychological level of $700/tonne[...]


War in Ukraine sends wheat prices sky high

Wheat prices have risen dramatically since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and war premiums have pushed values to exorbitant levels. At the close of trading on March 3, the nearby Chicago May wheat contract finished at US$11.34 per bushel, after its third consecutive limit-up gain. Kansas City May wheat ended that day at[...]

Is the wheat market poised for sharp spike?

The U.S. wheat complex drifted lower in the last week of September compared to the previous week. As price fluctuated, ongoing tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine simmered in the background. As September drew to a close, rumblings increased that the agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports would not be[...]



Russian hypocrisy and the wheat market

Wheat prices went for a wild ride during the week of Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 due to Russian machinations over the Black Sea export agreement. During the weekend of Oct. 29 and 30, the Russian Black Sea fleet was apparently attacked at its base at Sevastopol. Russia quickly levelled accusations that Ukraine perpetrated the[...]


Russia-Ukraine tensions influence wheat prices

Sabre-rattling over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia has bolstered wheat prices, but when the threat of war eased, wheat followed suit — at least for now. It’s abundantly clear Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seeking to expand his country’s influence in an attempt to increase Russia’s status as global superpower. Countries such[...]

Grain markets remain volatile

If there is one thing canola trading for the week ended July 15 proved, it’s that the drought across the Prairies remains a powerful influence on prices. The charts proved another thing as well: there’s a tremendous amount of volatility in the canola market. Prices rallied for six consecutive sessions from July 7 to 13,[...]